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Design meets Performance. One is already nearly used to the first-class design of Apple Notebooks. Ever since they are also equipped with Intel CPUs and it is possible to run them under Windows, they are true competitors to comparably equipped notebooks. As expected the MacBook Pro scores also high. This elegant notebook is really powerful, because of a T7700 CPU and a NVidia Geforce 8600M GT video card. So, gaming is possible with a Mac - „Sounds strange, but is true“.Acer Aspire 2930 charger

The MacBook Pro 15” with Intel chipset was already reviewed by us some time ago. At that time it was the pioneer Apple notebook with Intel CPU. The look of MacBooks did not chance much since then, at least at the first glance. Inside the noble aluminum case, you’ll now find the most up-to-date technology, which provides a lot of power. A good reason for reviewing the new MacBook Pro. Acer Aspire 1410 charger

In the meanwhile, the installation routine of Windows on a Mac was improved and, so, also the possibility to reasonably work under it. The procedure is rather easy: 1) Download the Bootcamp software. 2) Install and execute it under MacOS. 3) Insert and install the Vista CD. 4) Install Drivers for Vista. 5) Choose the operating system in the start menu at boot time (Alt). Acer Ferrari 1000 charger

This is all. And as one is accustomed to, this procedure by Apple is simple and user-friendly. Also the support for Apple functions under Vista was optimized in the meanwhile. E.g., scrolling with 2 fingers on the touchpad is no problem and also the integrated web cam (iSight) works troublefree. However, there are slight problems with some hardware differences, like the single touchpad button or the Apple specific keyboard layout. Acer AS09B56 charger

Back to the notebook. The case is nearly completely made of aluminum. The surface’s haptics is first-class. Despite of an edgy and linear design, there are no sharp or uncomfortable edges or corners.Acer AS09D31 chargerThe workmanship and stability of the MacBook are as good as the look elegant. All parts are seamlessly connected to one another. Scrutinizing the notebook for weaknesses regarding workmanship is a waste of time.

The aluminum case does neither react to applied forces nor are deflections possible. Handling the notebook is also as expected, you’ won’t hear any creaking. The total weight of only 2.4kg is one of the MacBook’s strengthes. The big, reversely attached hinge seems to be very robust. There might be usability limitations, because the opening angle of the display is, therefore, limited. Acer BATBL50L8H charger

The MacBook Pro’s display transport hook is advantageous. Immediately before completely closed, two hooks which lock the display in closed state, are moved out of the display by a magnetic mechanism. However, the release at the front side is difficult to use, because it is rather narrow. Acer Aspire 1810T charger

The whole back edge is used as vent hole for the fan. So, the interfaces are provided at the notebook’s flanks. The notebook is not equipped with many interfaces, but, the ones provided are of high-quality. Among others there are a Firewire 400, Firewire 800, DVI out, and also a 34mm ExpressCard slot. However, there are two points of critique: First of all only two USB ports are provided. Secondly, a docking port is missing. Acer BT.00803.015 charger

The already known MagSave power connector is again amongst the interfaces. This is a power connector, which is attached by magnetism. It does not only look good, it also protects the notebook in case somebody falls over the power cable.Acer LC.BTP01.017 charger

Regarding input devices, i.e., keyboard and touch pad, no difference to predecessor models can be noticed. However, the previous statement should not be negatively interpreted. The size of nearly all keys is comfortable. However, there is one significant exception: the enter key. Although it extends over two rows, it is rather narrow, so, requiring some adaption time, to definitely hit it all the times. Acer LC.BTP01.019 charger

Also the keyboard layout needs a little critique. For the sake of a nearly perfect design, all the keys were put in a strictly rectangular frame. So, the layout is not really concise. Furthermore, the keyboard is optimized for MacOS providing some special keys. That means, you’ll need getting used to it first. The Ctrl and the Alt keys are left beside the space bar, the AltGr key (for Windows) is missing. Acer AS09D34 charger

Typing feels very comfortable. It is soft and quiet with sufficient travel and a clear point of pressure. Depending on the hands’ position the notebook’s front edge might disturb if you continue typing over a longer period of time.Uneven gaps between single keys could not be detected at the reviewed notebook - something criticized at predecessor models. Acer AS09D36 charger

The automatic keyboard lighting is a nice feature. If you cover the light sensors, which are left and right beside the keyboard with your hands, or if the brightness of the environment is below a certain level, the MacBook Pro automatically switches on an optically impressing keyboard lighting (LEDs under each key). Acer AS09D56 charger

The touch pad is generally user-friendly, however, it only provides a single, but especially spacious button. While this is no problem under MacOS, this can be, depending on the application, uncomfortable under Windows. Up to now, you can only overcome these difficulties by using an external mouse (or by positioning two fingers on the pad and then click). Conditionally, one can criticize that the touch pad button is somewhat too rickety attached to the case. Acer AS09D70 charger

Super new feature of the touch pad: Scrolling with two fingers. While conventional touch pads need a dedicated scroll-zone, the MacBook’s touchpad allows browsing trough a document by placing one finger at the pad and moving a second one up or down. With the new version of the Bootcamp software, this is also supported under Windows.Acer AS09F34 charger

Color DiagramThe MacBook Pro is equipped with a 1440×900 Pixel WXGA+ display. This slightly improves the overview compared to the standard resolution of 1280×800 pixels, while the font size is still comfortable.Acer LC.BTP00.052 chargerThe matt display scored excellently. The maximum brightness amounted to exellent 346.6 cd/m² at the bottom part of the screen. The rather below-average illumination of 70% is put into perspective by a still excellent minimum brightness of 242.5 cd/m². The average brightness of 290.4 cd/m² is also very good. Looking at the color correction diagram we see that mostly the blue color curve has to be lowered to reach a neutral coloring.

The panel’s measured black value is 0.6 cd/m². Together with the excellent measured maximum brightness of 346.6 cd/m² this gives a very good contrast ratio of 548:1. We could not detect any anomalies regarding speed of reaction by performing scroll tests. Acer Ferrari 1003 charger

Operation OutdoorsOne can say with a clear conscience that the MacBook Pro is completely fit for outdoor usage. The matt non-reflecting display surface (in our review sample, you can also get a reflecting screen optionally) and the excellent brightness ensure a good picture also in the sunshine. Working in sunshine at the pool? - No problem for the MacBook Pro. Acer Ferrari 1003WTMi charger

Horizontally, the stability to to the vantage point is good and sufficient. At acute angles there is a loss of contrast. Vertically, the stability to the vantage point is good when looking from top down. Looking from bottom up the display soon darkens. However, displayed text stays passable legible.Acer Ferrari 1004WTMi charger

Equipped with a mobile High-End CPU, a Core 2 Duo T7700 processor with 2.4 GHz, and a fast video card, the MacBook sets extremely high standards for comparisons with other multimedia notebooks. This is also proved by benchmark tests. Acer Aspire 3100 charger

The built-in NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GT is responsible for these good results. It provides also sufficient performance for playing up-to-date games in a high resolution. So, performance is one of the MacBook’s strengthes, although it is still slightly outperformed by the comparably equipped Asus G1S in the practical test. Acer Aspire 3102 chargerFurthermore, the reviewed notebook was equipped with a total of 2GB main memory (2x 1GB, 667 MHz) and a 160GB 5400 revs/min hard disk. Regarding hard disk there is also a 7200 revs/min hard disk available.

Further information about the video card can be found here or in our comparison of mobile video cards.Acer Aspire 3102NWLMi charger Detailed information about the Core 2 Duo CPU can be found here. Please also look at our benchmark list of mobile processors or at our benchmark list of mobile video cards, in order to compare this notebook to other configurations.Overall, the Geforce 8600M GT is well fit for games, even for up-to-date demanding games. However, for absolute top performance the demanding gamer should rather choose a forthcoming Geforce 8700M GT or a 8800M.Acer Aspire 3102WLMi charger

A special strength of the MacBook Pro is its low emissions in idle mode and under load. Acer Aspire 3103 charger Considering the excellent equipment this aspect is even more interesting. Apple was once again able to combine first-class performance with very low noise emissions by an innovative ventilation technology. In idle mode the notebook is hardly audible. Under load the fan continuously speeds up and finally reaches a noise level of just 42dB. If the load falls, the fan reacts immediately and reduces its revolution speed and therewith also the noise level at once. Under Windows the measured emissions are a little higher. Obviously, this is the result of a better optimized energy/performance management under MacOS.Acer Aspire 3104 charger

The rather decently running fan and a well thermoconducting case cause a clear temperature increase under load especially at the back part of the case, where the vent holes are located. However, at the keyboard and the front part the overall temperature is within reasonable limits. Acer Aspire 3104WLMiB120 charger

At the bottom side there aren’t any vent holes. So, the air necessary for cooling is ingested trough the keyboard and blown off through the back edge. This avoids considerably heating of the input devices and makes the notebook fit for use on soft surfaces.Acer Aspire 3104WLMiB80 charger

The sound of the two speakers is clear and present. Weaknesses are the maximum volume and the basses. However, overall the speakers are alright. The notebook also be directly and lossless connected to an existing sound system by means of an optical out. So, it is possible to fully enjoy music.Acer Aspire 3104WLMiB80F charger

The 60 Wh 10.8 V lithium-polymer charger of the MacBook does not only look good, it also provides the notebook with sufficient energy for a useful mobile use. The runtime ranges from more than one hour to more than 4 hours at optimized energy settings under Windows. From experience the runtime is even better under MacOS.Acer Aspire 3690 charger

Apple MacBook Pro 15 Inch “Santa Rosa”The only thing we can say about the MacBook Pro’s design and workmanship is: first class. Of course this is to some degree our personal impression, but the first class materials (case completely made of aluminum) and the reliable workmanship contribute to this impression. Acer Aspire 5100 charger

Maybe you’ll need some time to adapt to the keyboard layout, especially if you are a Windows user. The enter key could also be a little bigger. However, typing is very user-friendly. The display convinces by concise resolution, excellent brightness, and a non-reflecting surface. All together this allows an outdoor operation without limitations, even in very bright environments. The charger runtime passably ranges from one to four hours and does also not limit the mobile use. Acer Aspire 5101 charger

Also the performance of the MacBook Pro is excellent. It is equipped with the, at the time of writing, most powerful mobile CPU, the C2D T7700 with 2.4 GHz. A Geforce 8600M GT ensures first-class video performance and makes the MacBook Pro fit for playing even demanding games. It’s a miracle, how Apple could put this first-class equipment into such a slim case and also keep the noise emissions low at the same time. You can only call it: Art - The art to design top-class and sophisticated mobile notebooks.Acer Aspire 3690 charger

In spite of the somewhat cramped space (due to the 12″ form factor), the case does not get too hot, but the bottom reaches a maximum of 43.8° C, and an average value of 37.5° C. This can quickly become a nuisance when having placed the device in one’s lap, since these values surpass body temperature. HP 484171-001

On the top side, the temperatures are lower, with a maximum of 38.5° C and an average of 33.8°C. Interestingly, the maximum value was reached around the back area of the right palm rest, the vent opening is located on the far side of the right edge as well. Higher values could be measured radiating from there, while the temperature is lower on the left side.HP 485041-001

The two built-in loudspeakers are located left and right above the keyboard, below the brick-like, perforated cover. Their sound is pretty thin and tinny, HP 485041-003while the maximum volume is alright. Muting works easily and without problems via the LED-lit, touch sensitive area above the keyboard. One needs quite some sure instinct for controlling the volume with the also touch sensitive scroll area. But once you have got the hang of it, i.e. sliding the finger across that area from “+” to “-” or vice versa at the right speed (not too fast), controlling the volume is also not a problem anymore. HP 487296-001

Surely, first-class loudspeakers are less important for a notebook designed for business use only than for one designed for multimedia usage. Additionally, one will likely want to use earphones for watching a favorite movie or simply listening to music, so fellow travellers are not disturbed unnecessarily. The analog headphone outlet sounds fairly good with some decent headphones. HP 487354-001

BatteryEater Classic TestThe notebook’s run duration without having access to a power outlet is of course not excellent,HP 497694-001 featuring a 3-cell lithium-ion battery with 37 Wh. Quite a pity considering the fact that the small and compact notebook was designed for mobile use and would really be enhanced by a viable battery life. The maximal runtime of 241 minutes (about 4 hours) is good anyway in view of the low battery capacity, it was measured using BatteryEater’s Reader’s Tool with activated energy-saving settings and dimmed display.HP 498482-001

The battery lasted only 58 minutes in BatteryEater’s Classic Test,HP HSTNN-CB72 which simulates full workload using a high-performance profile (WLAN switched on, maximal brightness). With a battery life of 115 minutes (about 2 hours) while playing a DVD with maximum brightness and using the HP-optimized profile, an average Hollywood-movie can be watched without problems. During the realistic WLAN test (energy-saving profile, medium brightness), one can surf the internet for 135 minutes (2 hours and 15 minutes).HP EV06055

Should you want to work mobile a whole work day long, having several charged batteries at hand as a backup is recommendable. At large, more options for batteries with higher capacities would be desirable.The HP Compaq 2230s pleases through its simple design and the additional, touch sensitive’s bar well visible, bright control-LEDs. The notebook is also easily serviceable. HP HSTNN-CB73

The matt display is very well suited for its main usage, which is mobile, but it could be brighter for outdoor use. A modem port perfects the usual communication ports, such as GigaBit-LAN and Wireless-LAN. There is no integrated UMTS-modem for fast, wireless data transfer, and the maximal opening angle of 135 degrees can be insufficient fast during mobile use. HP HSTNN-DB72

For protecting sensitive data on the hard disk from loss by shocks, the HP 2230s includes the HP Drive Guard. Data security is improved by a fingerprint reader and a Kensington Lock. All in all, one can state that the lightweight, 1.8 kg 12.1″-format notebook is a solid companion for businessmen and private customers alike, but one should not stray too far from the next power outlet.HP HSTNN-DB73

… is numerous and constantly growing. We recently tested the Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo Mobile U9210, whose predecessor, the Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo Mobile U9200, is available at a very competitive price at the moment, and the Portege A600 or the Portege R500. HP HSTNN-IB72

Beginner’s Tablet Guide. The sudden inundation of tablets this year has certainly got at least some readers scratching their heads. In this handy guide, we provide a concise overview of tablet history, its current market trends and even some suggestions for the hottest items this Holiday season.Apple PowerBook G4 17inch Series

To be honest, we first came up with the idea of writing a primer about the market’s top device segments earlier this year, but by the time we actually got around to working on it, we realized that so much had changed. Some devices were discontinued, others were unveiled and more than one new segment was created. Heck, we even had to give thought to rebranding our website as “ultranetbooktabletcheck.net”, but the domain was a bit too long for our tastes.Apple PowerBook G4 15inch Titanium Series

Now if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the influx of new devices, then we’re hoping this article will help simplify things a bit. In the upcoming series we take a brief look at the three most dominant categories currently present on the mobile computing market: Tablets, Netbooks, and Ultraportables. Obviously, regular sized notebooks and even smartphones can now enter the discussion, but for the most part we’re sticking to these three due to their portability and current popularity as non-phone devices.Apple iBook G4 12inch Series

We start things off by taking a look at what characterizes each of these categories along with a brief history, then move on to their intended markets before rounding things off with some of our own personal recommendations. Of course, we can’t promise that you’ll have your mind made up about your next purchase by the time you’re done reading,Apple 13 inch MacBook AirApple Macbook Air 13 inchApple MacBook Air 13.3-inch but hopefully it’ll make your choice a tad bit easier. And who knows, by the time you reach the bottom of this page, someone out there may have already introduced a new device and we’ll have to start all over again!

In the English language, a tablet is a flat slab of something that’s intended for inscription, and that definitely applies to modern day tablet computers. Available in a variety of sizes, almost all tablets follow the “slate” design consisting of a front 5”-10” capacitive touchscreen with little to no physical buttons and a thin lightweight body in most cases. In addition,Apple iBook G3 12inch Seriestablets mainly rely on touchscreen input, though some manufacturers may opt to include built-in or detachable keyboards. Overall, the tablet design emphasizes simplicity and portability, and companies compete in offering the thinnest and lightest devices.

Current tablets are powered by a wide range of processors, with the most popular being NVIDIA’s Tegra series, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and ARM’s Cortex A-series of chips. In addition, some tablets may come with high quality IPS (In-Plane-Switching) displays, and even HD resolutions.Apple PowerBook G4 15inch Camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, gyroscopes, mini-HDMI ports and at least 8-16GB of Flash storage are found stock on most tablets nowadays, with many manufacturers also releasing 3G equipped versions of their devices.

The original tablet architecture probably traces its roots way back to the days of Apple’s Newton platform, which was introduced in 1993 and then discontinued in 1998. Though it didn’t gain much traction, it paved the way for the next stage in tablet development courtesy of Microsoft and their tablet version of Windows XP. Sadly, Apple PowerBook G4 12inch Seriesthe tablet Windows notebooks weren’t very successful, due in part to their high prices and bulkiness in contrast to other notebooks.

While some might argue that the Portable Media Players (PMPs) of the early 2000’s were the predecessor for the modern day tablet, we tend to entail most of that credit with the late-Steve Jobs instead. Jobs, who was ironically behind the discontinuation of the original Apple Newton,Apple iBook G4 14inch Series is widely credited with starting the tablet boom after the introduction of the iPad in January 2010. The iPad benefited from hardware advancements that allowed it to be thin and fast, and though it was originally ridiculed due to its similarity to the iPhone, it still managed to post record profits.

After witnessing the success of the iPad, more manufacturers needed in on the market and none other than Google decided to grab a share of the pie. Using their mobile Android OS, the first Google-powered tablets were announced in late 2010 by Archos, Samsung and ViewSonic. The devices were definitely not as popular as the iPad, but due to more recent tablet-oriented software, Android tablets have gained much traction over the past year.Apple iBook G3 14″ inch Series

There have been some other notable entries into the tablet market, mainly by Research in Motion and HP, but neither has been very successful and the tablet market continues to be dominated by Apple and Android.Apple MacBook Pro 17inch Many folks are unable to come to grips with what tablets are actually useful for and some expect them to fall out of flavor in the long run. However, with estimates now indicating that 100 Million tablets will ship by 2012, you can probably bank on them staying for a while.

One of the biggest pluses that tablets have to offer is that almost anybody can find at least some use for it due to the almost endless amount of applications. Almost any app you can think of probably exists out there in some shape or form, and neat touchscreen and gyroscopic controls make these apps a pleasure to use. Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch SeriesAs such, kids can get their gaming fix from tablets, adults can surf the web and watch movies on the go, employees can have more diverse ways of getting their work done, and students can benefit from reading electronic textbooks or studying using interactive apps.

In a recent survey conducted by Google’s AdMob, it was revealed that most tablet owners mainly use their tablets for gaming, followed by searching for info and emailing. Furthermore, 43% of respondents stated that they spend more time on their tablet than on a desktop or TV, and 68% reported spending more than 1 hour on their tablet per day.Apple MacBook 13 inch

Results of a recent survey by AdMob, in which 1,430 tablet owners were asked about their tablet usageWhile all the preceding activities can also be done from a normal PC, tablets are comparatively a lot lighter and thinner than most notebooks and almost all desktops. Apple MacBook Pro 13 inchTheir extended battery life and 3G capabilities allow for far more portability than usual laptops as well. In any case, most tablet manufacturers market them as secondary rather than primary computing devices, leading to a higher chance of co-existence with personal PCs. And of course, the touchscreens allow for easier use in certain applications, and further advances will only increase the sensitivity and give way for more intuitive ways of user interfacing.

As we mentioned earlier, Apple’s iPad was arguably the first official tablet released and it enjoyed a near monopoly on the market for a little less than a year. However, with the introduction of Google’s more tablet-oriented Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating systems, more and more users are making the jump over to the Android atmosphere. Apple MacBook Pro 15 inch SeriesWhile Apple and the iPad will always have a gargantuan following, the iPad remains slightly limited due to its single shape and size (as of Q4 2011), along with a lack of customizability. On the other hand, Android tablets come in many different forms, so much so that some customers may have difficulty choosing; especially since popular manufacturers such as Sony, ASUS, Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon and even Barnes & Noble all produce Android tablets.

Ultimately, the success of a tablet may not rest upon its hardware specifications or design, but rather on software ease of use and application availability. With regards to usability, Apple probably has the slight edge, as Apple’s OS is generally more friendly and fluid and many users are already accustomed to iOS from experiencing the iPhone or iPod Touch. In contrast, 15″ apple powerbook g4 aluminum batteryGoogle’s latest Honeycomb and ICS OS’s emphasize easier user access, but the custom UIs that are sometimes added by manufacturers (e.g., HTC Sense, Motorola Motoblur, and Samsung TouchWiz) may not be to everyone’s liking.

Unfortunately for Google, Android doesn’t fare much better when it comes to apps as Apple’s App Store reigns supreme in terms of both application numbers and general quality. As of 2011, Android has a bit over 350,000 apps in their market (with 33% of them being classified as low quality according to AppBrain), 15″ apple powerbook g4 titanium batterywhile Apple’s App Store crossed the 500k mark back in May of this year. On the other hand, Android does have approximately 10,000 more free applications than iOS, but keep in mind that most analysts tend to view them as lower quality compared to iOS apps.

The differences between the two rivals become clearer when you take a look at the amount of tablets moved, as Apple managed to sell 9.25 Million iPads during Q3 of 2011 while only 1.2 Million Android tablets were sold in all of 2011. This clearly shows that Apple still holds the lion’s share of the market, but that could very well change as Microsoft’s upcoming tablet-optimized Windows 8 platform could tilt the landscape.17″ apple powerbook g4 battery

The 6-cell battery puts the 531 into a slanted position.Our test sample had to unfortunately give up a large part of its elegance due to the large, protruding 6-cell battery. This also puts the laptop into a slanted position and raises the rear area up from its respective surface. Unfortunately the battery wobbles a bit, which reduces the overall good impression of quality. Toshiba PA3733U-1BRS

In particular the base unit is particularly dimensionally stable and shows no unusual deformations against large amounts of physical pressure. Unfortunately this is not true for the display overall, which gives a little but still performs well on the whole.Toshiba PA3733U-1BAS

Both hinges give a good impression, which keep the panel in position with regulated force. Making adjustments to the opening angle of the display as well as closing the lid is still possible with one hand only.

You should watch out when stowing the netbook away in a bag, as the display has no kind of locking mechanism, which means that objects could slide in between the keyboard and display.Toshiba PA3732U-1BAS

Reducing the height of the base unit towards the front edge of the device requires a precise positioning of individual ports. The ports are, so to speak, placed on the device in positions depending on their height requirements. This is why the front and the front half of the left and right edges remain free of connections. Toshiba PABAS218

In the middle area on the side there are the audio ports as well as a cardreader and USB connections. Both of the “biggest” connections, the VGA port and LAN connection are skilfully put by Acer in the back corner, where both connections are shapely integrated into the overall design. Toshiba PABAS209

The Aspire One doesn’t just attract attention with its looks, but also in terms of practical use we were pleased with the scope, quality and position of the ports. The Aspire One 531 offers three USB 2.0 ports overall which is the same as some 17-inch laptops. Also the consistent positioning of possibly permanently occupied ports like the VGA output, the LAN port or the mains adapter is convincing.Toshiba PA3672U-1BARS

Finally the practical test of the VGA port went without criticism. On our test monitor, a Dell 2408wfp the small laptop conjured up a first class and sharp image with a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. We’re talking about a proud 61 centimetres diagonally compared to the puny 25.5 centimetres on the internal screen.Toshiba PA3732U-1BAS

Acer has meant well with the addition of an SD expansion port to the cardreader. Here SD-cards can be inserted that can be used as additional memory. With the inbuilt 160GB hard drive the need for such a solution is limited.Toshiba PABAS078

Right: audio, 2x USB, mains adapter, LANAcer offers the full range when it comes to communications modules. Whilst LAN 10/100 Mbps and Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g still belong to the mandatory equipment of the laptop, specific models are also equipped with Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR. In additional there is optional integrated UMTS/HSPA mobile broadband internet, at least according to Acer. Toshiba PA3615U-1BRS

Until now, however, there are no models equipped as such to be found in German-speaking countries of Europe. Experience shows, however, that an integrated broadband modem is likely, adding what we expect to be 100.- Euro to the cost, which would make the price of the Aspire One 531 nearly 500.- Euro. Toshiba PA3615U-1BRM

When it comes to operating system, Windows XP Home is used, which is experiencing a rebirth, so to speak, what with the emergence of the netbook, whilst Vista is dealt a further blow in its not-so-glorious history by being dropped for Windows XP. Due to the low performance requirements Windows XP is still the preferred OS for mini-laptops.Like many other netbooks, the Acer Aspire One 531 only comes with a 12 month guarantee.Toshiba PABAS115

Quite clearly the same keyboard is taken from the Aspire D150 and put into use in Aspire One 531 at hand. Therefore this netbook also gets a keyboard with the full range of inputs, which, when it comes to key size, ranks among the smallest comparable competitor (Asus Eee 1002HA, Samsung NC10).Toshiba PA3591U-1BAS

Certainly after a certain acclimatisation period on the Aspire One 531 extremely fast and error-free text input can be attained. The typing feel is characterised by a particularly small stroke. The quiet background noise even when typing quickly is positively viewed as well as the fact that the keyboard is hardly prone to being bent under pressure.Toshiba PA3591U-1BRS

The multi-touch function of the integrated touchpad is seen as a rather useful feature. This is especially useful for frequently used multimedia functions such as “next, zoom and scroll”, which are easy to configure.Toshiba PA3589U-1BRS

The response time of the touchpad is consistently good, however the size of the pad at just 6.5 x 3.5 cm makes extended use unpleasant. Provided you want a central input function with intelligent multi-touch features on your touchpad, you simply don’t come around to suitable dimensions for this purpose - compare to the current Apple MacBooks.Toshiba PA3522U-1BRS

The Acer Aspire One 531 uses the typical netboToshiba PA3522U-1BASok display format of 1024×600 pixels (WSVGA). Furthermore LED technology is put into use, which offers comparably better brightness and also low energy consumption compared to CCFL displays.

We can confirm Acer’s quote for brightness at 200 nit with the measurements we obtained in the tests. We could observe a maximum brightness in the centre left display quadrants with brightness even reaching 226 cd/m². At 83.8% the panel achieves an acceptable illumination. Toshiba PABAS092

Subjectively the panel offers acceptable colour reproduction with an average brightness of 209 cd/m². In terms of contrast the display admittedly falls behind our expectations with a maximum contrast ratio of 121:1, whilst the reflective display does nothing to help this.Toshiba PA3382U-1BRS

Strong reflections in unfavourable lighting conditionsDue to its good brightness the Acer Aspire One 531 has good conditions for outdoor use. Indeed the reflective display surfaces throw a spanner in the works. As standard for this kind of display, strong reflections often appear, Toshiba PA3382U-1BAS especially in unfavourable and bright lighting conditions, which are mostly to be encountered outdoors, so that you can only see your own reflection in the display. Certainly, these glossy displays also lead to a rapid tiring of the eyes with disturbing reflections indoors, and eyes must constantly “fade out” these overlaying reflections.

Also the display deserves no prizes when it comes to viewing angle stability. In the vertical field of vision at low viewing angles distortions to the image appear rapidly, whilst in the horizontal field you have to primarily fight with reinforced reflections.Toshiba PA3384U-1BAS

There’s nothing new to report about the Acer Netbook at hand when it comes to performance. Here, the latest version of the Intel Atom CPU comes into play (N280), which with a clock speed of 1.66 GHz provides solid office performance on Windows XP. Toshiba PA3384U-1BRS

The Intel GMA 950 onboard chip provides the graphical solution, which is likewise consistently sufficient for basic applications. In the 3D Mark 2001 Benchmark test the Acer Aspire One N280 achieves 3215 points, which is actually a best compared to other, similarly equipped netbooks. When it comes to its capacity to play games, it is admittedly no bed of roses.Toshiba PABAS052

3D Mark 2001In principle the power of the Atom N280 CPU 1.66 Ghz and the GMA 950 should be enough to render HD videos. In a practical test with the “Coral-Reef-Adventure” trailer (1080p) we noticed at first extremely strong jittering. A refreshed attempt went clearly more fluidly as the first test, yet it at the while resulted in short judders. A peek at the CPU utilisation, however, showed a constant 57%, which means that other components should be responsible for this drop in performance.Toshiba PA3399U-1BRS

Further tests of practical applications were carried out, for example of music and video playback, surfing the internet, simple word processing and spreadsheet processing, which all ran problem free. It’s only the somewhat longer waiting times that you have to deal with when it comes to this device,Toshiba PA3399U-1BAS in comparison with the performance oriented dual-core CPUs that we have all gotten used to.

The hard drive carries authority, in the case of the Acer Aspire One 531 a disk from Toshiba (MK1652GSX) with a capacity of 160GB and a rotational speed of 5400rpm. In the HDTune benchmark test the mass storage device indeed showed good transfer rates of up to 61.8 MB/sec, but admittedly a somewhat longer access time of 18.7 milliseconds.Toshiba PA3399U-2BAS

Acer configures the Aspire One 531 ex factory with 1024MB DDR2 of RAM. There is only one slot for memory modules, meaning that in the case of a future upgrade, the installed 1GB module must be removed. A maximum of 2GB RAM is supported. For basic office applications you should get on with 1GB of RAM on Windows XP. Only by more advanced picture editing and complex applications would a RAM upgrade make sense.Toshiba PABAS174

In modest Office use you can notice that the fans are constantly running. Although this is only noticeable as long as you concentrate on the noise but at just 31.4 dB(A) on our scale the Acer Aspire One 531 remains in an uncritical and unobtrusive range of noise. However, Toshiba PA3782U-1BRSthe hard drive stood out as somewhat unpleasant, which stands out time and time again from the otherwise subtle background sounds with a clearly audible rumble. When idle with maximum power saving settings we could also notice that the fan noises were silent. The fan noises only come about suddenly as soon as minimal load is applied, meaning that as the fan is only quiet for a short time, this aspect is actually not worth mentioning.Toshiba PA3783U-1BRS

Under load the system’s fans get faster and with that so too does the noise from the netbook increase. Running demanding programs, the device achieved a noise level of 35.3 dB(A) and the system reached its peak of 41.1 dB(A) using the entire extent of the CPU’s and GPU’s resources for an extended period of time. In practise this scenario would, however, rarely be seen.Toshiba PA3784U-1BRS

As usual we tested the maximum surface temperatures of the case after several hours of constant load of the hardware. The Acer Aspire One 531 reached somewhat higher temperatures than expected, despite the inclusion of energy efficient components. On the upper side of the base unit a maximum temperature of 38.3 °C can be observed on the left rear area of the keyboard. The maximum temperatures were indeed somewhat higher on the underside of the case. Here the measured peak of a proud 46.8 °C was observed in the area of the fans. Toshiba PA3785U-1BRS

However, the OCZ cannot keep up with 2.5″ models with SATA 6G interface. The latter achieves write and read transfer rates of above 300 MB/s and 500 MB/s. Nevertheless, our OCZ model can well compete with other mSata SSDs, e.g. Intel’s 310. Despite a lower read performance, it is on a par in write rates. Asus 90-NED1B2100YFurthermore, it is advantageous that it is also available in 120 GB. Due to this convenient size, a further drive is obsolete in subnotebooks. The Nocti has further advantages, like a noiseless operation and a low weight, in common with its mSata competitors.

Picture: OCZAlthough OCZ’s Nocti is not today’s fastest mSata drive, it still delivers a decent performance. In particular compared to the still wide-spread conventional hard drives, the performance gain is significant in practice. What makes the mSata drive especially appealing is that it combines low weight, small size, and,Asus 90-NWF1B2000Y A32-M50 considering the size, a high capacity of 120 GB. Thus, the Nocti can potentially replace other mass storage devices without limiting the capacity too much. The price of 1.6 Euro/GB is very fair and could be a decisive factor for potential customers.

Beginner’s Tablet Guide. The sudden inundation of tablets this year has certainly got at least some readers scratching their heads. In this handy guide, we provide a concise overview of tablet history, its current market trends and even some suggestions for the hottest items this Holiday season.Asus A32-N61

To be honest, we first came up with the idea of writing a primer about the market’s top device segments earlier this year, but by the time we actually got around to working on it, we realized that so much had changed. Some devices were discontinued, others were unveiled and more than one new segment was created. Heck, we even had to give thought to rebranding our website as “ultranetbooktabletcheck.net”, but the domain was a bit too long for our tastes.Asus A32-X64 A33-M50

Now if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the influx of new devices, then we’re hoping this article will help simplify things a bit. In the upcoming series we take a brief look at the three most dominant categories currently present on the mobile computing market: Tablets,Asus L062066 Netbooks, and Ultraportables. Obviously, regular sized notebooks and even smartphones can now enter the discussion, but for the most part we’re sticking to these three due to their portability and current popularity as non-phone devices.

We start things off by taking a look at what characterizes each of these categories along with a brief history, then move on to their intended markets before rounding things off with some of our own personal recommendations. Of course, we can’t promise that you’ll have your mind made up about your next purchase by the time you’re done reading,Asus L072051 L0790C6 but hopefully it’ll make your choice a tad bit easier. And who knows, by the time you reach the bottom of this page, someone out there may have already introduced a new device and we’ll have to start all over again!

In the English language, a tablet is a flat slab of something that’s intended for inscription, and that definitely applies to modern day tablet computers. Available in a variety of sizes, almost all tablets follow the “slate” design consisting of a front 5”-10” capacitive touchscreen with little to no physical buttons and a thin lightweight body in most cases.Asus 70-NLF1B2000Y In addition, tablets mainly rely on touchscreen input, though some manufacturers may opt to include built-in or detachable keyboards. Overall, the tablet design emphasizes simplicity and portability, and companies compete in offering the thinnest and lightest devices.

Current tablets are powered by a wide range of processors, with the most popular being NVIDIA’s Tegra series, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon and ARM’s Cortex A-series of chips. In addition, some tablets may come with high quality IPS (In-Plane-Switching) displays, and even HD resolutions.Asus 70-NLF1B2000ZCamera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, gyroscopes, mini-HDMI ports and at least 8-16GB of Flash storage are found stock on most tablets nowadays, with many manufacturers also releasing 3G equipped versions of their devices.

The original tablet architecture probably traces its roots way back to the days of Apple’s Newton platform, which was introduced in 1993 and then discontinued in 1998. Though it didn’t gain much traction, it paved the way for the next stage in tablet development courtesy of Microsoft and their tablet version of Windows XP. Sadly, the tablet Windows notebooks weren’t very successful, due in part to their high prices and bulkiness in contrast to other notebooks.Asus 70NLF1B2000Y 70NLF1B2000Z

While some might argue that the Portable Media Players (PMPs) of the early 2000’s were the predecessor for the modern day tablet, we tend to entail most of that credit with the late-Steve Jobs instead. Jobs, who was ironically behind the discontinuation of the original Apple Newton,Asus 90-NLF1B2000Y is widely credited with starting the tablet boom after the introduction of the iPad in January 2010. The iPad benefited from hardware advancements that allowed it to be thin and fast, and though it was originally ridiculed due to its similarity to the iPhone, it still managed to post record profits.

After witnessing the success of the iPad, more manufacturers needed in on the market and none other than Google decided to grab a share of the pie. Using their mobile Android OS, the first Google-powered tablets were announced in late 2010 by Archos, Samsung and ViewSonic. The devices were definitely not as popular as the iPad, but due to more recent tablet-oriented software, Android tablets have gained much traction over the past year.Asus 90-NLF1B2000Z 90-NLF1BZ000Y

There have been some other notable entries into the tablet market, mainly by Research in Motion and HP, but neither has been very successful and the tablet market continues to be dominated by Apple and Android.Asus 90-NLF1BZ000Z

Many folks are unable to come to grips with what tablets are actually useful for and some expect them to fall out of flavor in the long run. However, with estimates now indicating that 100 Million tablets will ship by 2012, you can probably bank on them staying for a while.Asus 90-NVD1B1000Y 90NLF1B2000Y

One of the biggest pluses that tablets have to offer is that almost anybody can find at least some use for it due to the almost endless amount of applications. Almost any app you can think of probably exists out there in some shape or form, and neat touchscreen and gyroscopic controls make these apps a pleasure to use.Asus 90NLF1B2000Z As such, kids can get their gaming fix from tablets, adults can surf the web and watch movies on the go, employees can have more diverse ways of getting their work done, and students can benefit from reading electronic textbooks or studying using interactive apps.

In a recent survey conducted by Google’s AdMob, it was revealed that most tablet owners mainly use their tablets for gaming, followed by searching for info and emailing. Furthermore, 43% of respondents stated that they spend more time on their tablet than on a desktop or TV, and 68% reported spending more than 1 hour on their tablet per day.Asus 90NLF1BZ000Y 90NLF1BZ000Z

Results of a recent survey by AdMob, in which 1,430 tablet owners were asked about their tablet usageWhile all the preceding activities can also be done from a normal PC, tablets are comparatively a lot lighter and thinner than most notebooks and almost all desktops. Asus A32-F52Their extended battery life and 3G capabilities allow for far more portability than usual laptops as well. In any case, most tablet manufacturers market them as secondary rather than primary computing devices, leading to a higher chance of co-existence with personal PCs. And of course, the touchscreens allow for easier use in certain applications, and further advances will only increase the sensitivity and give way for more intuitive ways of user interfacing.

As we mentioned earlier, Apple’s iPad was arguably the first official tablet released and it enjoyed a near monopoly on the market for a little less than a year. However, with the introduction of Google’s more tablet-oriented Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating systems, more and more users are making the jump over to the Android atmosphere. Asus A32-F82 L0690L6While Apple and the iPad will always have a gargantuan following, the iPad remains slightly limited due to its single shape and size (as of Q4 2011), along with a lack of customizability. On the other hand, Android tablets come in many different forms, so much so that some customers may have difficulty choosing; especially since popular manufacturers such as Sony, ASUS, Samsung, Lenovo, Amazon and even Barnes & Noble all produce Android tablets. Asus L0A2016

Ultimately, the success of a tablet may not rest upon its hardware specifications or design, but rather on software ease of use and application availability. With regards to usability, Apple probably has the slight edge, as Apple’s OS is generally more friendly and fluid and many users are already accustomed to iOS from experiencing the iPhone or iPod Touch. In contrast, Asus 70-OA111B1000Google’s latest Honeycomb and ICS OS’s emphasize easier user access, but the custom UIs that are sometimes added by manufacturers (e.g., HTC Sense, Motorola Motoblur, and Samsung TouchWiz) may not be to everyone’s liking.

Unfortunately for Google, Android doesn’t fare much better when it comes to apps as Apple’s App Store reigns supreme in terms of both application numbers and general quality. As of 2011, Android has a bit over 350,000 apps in their market (with 33% of them being classified as low quality according to AppBrain),Asus 70-OA1G1B1000while Apple’s App Store crossed the 500k mark back in May of this year. On the other hand, Android does have approximately 10,000 more free applications than iOS, but keep in mind that most analysts tend to view them as lower quality compared to iOS apps.

The differences between the two rivals become clearer when you take a look at the amount of tablets moved, as Apple managed to sell 9.25 Million iPads during Q3 of 2011 while only 1.2 Million Android tablets were sold in all of 2011. This clearly shows that Apple still holds the lion’s share of the market, but that could very well change as Microsoft’s upcoming tablet-optimized Windows 8 platform could tilt the landscape.Asus 70-OA1G1B1100 AP21-MK90

Of course, the iOS vs. Android debate is probably too big to be settled in this article alone, but Apple and the iPad appear to be winning due to build and app quality along with ease of use. Nonetheless, Android tablets do have their own following, and their lower price tags and more choices make them an appealing option to budget-strapped consumers or for those looking for something a little bit different.Asus AP21-T91

Part III - Notebookcheck Recommendations

With the ever increasing number of tablets out there, we know it can be hard to make a decision on what to buy. After looking at various categories, including pricing, hardware, software and design, we can safely recommend the following devices:Asus AP23-T91

At just .34 inches (8.8mm) thick, the iPad 2 is 35% thinner than the original iPad and comes with a 9.7” IPS display, a 1GHz Cortex A5 CPU, 512MB of RAM and is available in 16, 32 and 64GB sizes with Wi-Fi or 3G. You can read our full review here, but the iPad 2 definitely tops our tablet list thanks to its lightweight design and the number of apps available. As such, until Apple announces their iPad 3, we can whole-heartedly recommend the current iPad for those in search of a tablet.Asus 15G10N381200

Possibly the most popular Android tablet out there, the Transformer introduced a new concept by adding a detachable keyboard that doubles as both a docking station and an extra battery. In addition, the Transformer comes with a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU, 1GB of RAM, a 10.1” IPS display,Asus 15G10N381200CM-2 micro-SD reader and is available in 16GB/32GB models, but with no 3G option. Our comprehensive review can be found here, and we definitely like the Transformer from the available Android tablets, especially since it is cheaper than much of the competition.

Price: $399 for the 16GB model, $499 for the 32GB model; however, the keyboard dock tacks on another $100. We expect price drops across the board once the Transformer Prime releases before the end of the year in the U.S.Asus 15G10N381200CM-#8203 90-NGC1B1000Y

Though ASUS has yet to release their next-gen tablet, it managed a spot on our list thanks to its tantalizing specs. The 8.3mm thick tablet, which comes in 32GB and 64GB flavors, is upgradeable to Android 4.0 ICS and should be the first NVIDIA Tegra 3 tablet to hit the market. In addition, its mobile dock can apparently extend battery life by up to an astonishing 18 hours. ASUS has currently begun accepting pre-orders for UK customers, with the US launch set for December 19th.Asus A34-M90

Next in line on the Android circuit is the Samsung Galaxy Tab, which comes in 10.1”, 8.9”, 7.7” and 7” models. Thus, the Galaxy Tab has the full spectrum covered due to its various screen sizes with Wi-Fi/3G options and even 4G on select Tab models (7.7, 8.9 and 10.1). Samsung’s tablets also feature the custom UI TouchWiz,Asus A34-W90 L0690L6 which adds certain widgets and easy-access menus. Furthermore, the Tab is about the same thickness as the iPad 2, and all the devices come with Samsung’s signature AMOLED displays.It’s a tough choice between the Transformer and Galaxy Tabs, but if you have no interest in the docking station then the Tab may be the way to go.Asus NBP12A100

One of the newer devices to hit the market, the Kindle Fire only comes with a dual-core 1GHz OMAP 4 CPU, no cameras, 512MB of RAM and only 8GB of SSD storage. However, the Fire benefits immensely from its integration with Amazon’s services and its sub-$200 price tag. The tablet also comes with a 7” IPS display and only weighs 14.6 oz (413 grams), but doesn’t offer as much “punch” as the other Android tablets.Asus A32-W7

The minimum battery life under load is determined with BatteryEater’s Classic test. It loads the CPU and GPU by rendering a moving 3D object. Acer BTP-AHD1The Satellite only lasts for not quite 80 minutes - an acceptable rate.Toshiba Satellite L750-16WThe Toshiba Satellite L750 can’t excel in our test. The design is contemporary and the base unit is stable so that the case is well suited for private customers. The connectivity is up to date, but not outstanding. All state of the art interfaces are available with HDMI and USB 3.0 and users shouldn’t be missing any interfaces.Acer BTP-AID1

The keyboard is good, but the gaps between the keys could have been a bit wider. The numpad will delight users who have to enter long number columns. On the other hand, the touchpad is a bit imprecise and not palpably separated. Thus, the fingers tend to quickly slide off the touchpad.Acer LC.BTP00.130A

The screen is reflective and not very bright. Consequently, it isn’t very convincing in bright surroundings. As more often than not, the contrasts and viewing angles are also limited. The processor is strong enough for most applications. Throttling occurs when the processor and graphics card are loaded by demanding games or programs. It lets the processor clock drop to only 800 MHz.Acer L10D56A

The hard disk is very fast and stores enough data. The Satellite is only suitable for games to an extent. For one thing, the performance is slowed down considerably during load peaks. The laptop remains agreeably cool and fairly quiet during routine tasks. In return, the power consumption is quite high for a notebook of this performance category.Acer L10C31

Overall, the Satellite L750-16W is aimed at users who need a solid notebook,Acer AS10B31 but don’t want to squeeze out the last MHz of performance. The processor’s performance is easily sufficient for editing pictures or videos.Crème de la crème. We are now listing the editorial office’s current top devices from every category here for spontaneous buyers or those who are already waiting for After-Holiday-Sales. No matter if you are looking for a slim notebook, a tablet PC, an affordable office laptop or even a high performance gamer, you’ll find the right one here.Acer AS10B41

Readers could find an overview of laptops from the various device categories in the previous shopping guides. To conclude the series, the Notebookcheck editorial office would like to pull an overall verdict and choose the top devices of the different categories.Acer AS10B51

We will limit ourselves to a maximum of three devices in every category for our selection, whereby the sorting does not indicate any preferences. We listed the devices in alphabetical order. A detailed overview of other potential candidates of the single categories can be found on the following special reports linked here:Acer AS10B73

Apple MacBook Air 13The Apple MacBook Air 13 secures itself an editor’s recommendation also in this category. Acer AS10B3EThe slim case, fast hardware, good screen and the typical good unibody case, as well as the convincing input devices including LED backlight, are strong arguments for this option. If we look at it generously, it is Apple’s ultrabook which most OEMs with Windows devices want to keep up with. At a starting price of €1249 (RRP), this “quality apple” has its price, especially when the buyer considers that, for example, an Acer Aspire S3 with a 13.3 inch screen is already available for starting at €799 (RRP). Apple’s 11 inch counterpart to the Air 13 is also a bit cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 11.Acer AS10B5E

Asus Zenbook UX31Now, the following may be seen as the proverbial comparison of apples and oranges, Acer AS10B7E but judging by the rating in the review and the overall impression, the Asus Zenbook U31 UltraBook can very well keep up with Apple’s Air: Strong hardware, an aluminum case (unibody) and an overall high-end impression. Asus’ advantage: The 13.3 inch screen is very bright and has a resolution of 1600×900 pixels in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Apple can’t offer this even for a surcharge. Excepting for the top model with an Intel Core i7 processor and SSD memory medium, the two “smaller” models are even cheaper than the Apple Air. Just as interesting for potential buyers: The smaller Asus UX21 UltraBook with similar strengths.Acer AS10E76

Samsung Series 9 900X1BSlim cases are trendy. Samsung also underlines this with its Series 9, to be precise the 900X1B subnotebook.Acer LC.BTP01.005 Compared to pure aluminum cases, Samsung uses a special alloy from the aircraft industry called duralumin. It’s just as robust, but isn’t as easy to clean. The latest Intel hardware, including an SSD memory, also does its job inside. On the other hand, the 900X1B differs in a smaller, 11.6 inch screen, more compact dimensions and a lower total weight. At a recommended retail price of €999, the price is still within limits for this category. Again, it has an equal big brother, the 900X3A (13 inch). Acer LC.BTP01.009

Apple MacBook Pro 15″More Bang for the Buck” is supplied with the Late 2011 Refresh of Apple’s MacBook Pro 15. Acer LC.BTP01.020The refresh bids more performance for the same money with a perfect aluminum unibody case, a very good screen (optionally matt) and the latest hardware (Intel Core i7-2760QM & AMD Radeon HD 6770M). However, owners of an Early 2011 model won’t have any benefits by replacing it. Of course, the operating system is ultimately a matter of taste, but Apple offers a tried and tested device with this update. In terms of price, this notebook places itself in the ultimate premium range, which could still be a make-or-break criterion.Acer BT.00803.004

Reviews of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 Late 2011 (2.4 GHz, 6770M, glare) // Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2.0 GHz, matt) // Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2.0 GHz, glare) // Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2.2 GHz, glare)

Alienware M14xAn unusual rarity has also made it onto our top rating list. Acer BT.T3004.001We are speaking of a powerful gaming/multimedia notebook in a typical business-style 14 inch size called M14x. An Intel quad core CPU paired with Nvidia’s GeForce GT 555M graphics card provides impressive performance in view of the compact size. Whether gaming on the desk at home or surfing on the go, the M14x is capable of almost everything. Downside: Glossy screen and high noise level during load.Acer BT.T3007.001

Schenker mySN XMG A501When dealing with almost completely configurable notebooks, the German supplier Schenker Notebooks,Acer BT.T3007.003 short mySN, shouldn’t be left out. In the category of multimedia laptops, the company sends the XMG A501 with a matt 15.6 inch screen into the race. Including the latest hardware, such as Intel’s Core i5-2410M dual core CPU and the dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 555M graphics unit, automatic graphics switching, good screen rates, an impressive case, good battery runtimes and pleasant input devices, the device comes very close to perfection. The emissions during load, the GPU’s tight memory interface and a bulky power adapter oppose the positive impression. Nevertheless, the start price of €669 is more than appropriate.Acer BTP-58A1

Apple iPad 2In the category of tablet PCs, the Apple iPad 2 naturally shouldn’t be omitted,Acer BTP-59A1 even if fans of the Android operating system will be critical of this statement. The case’s workmanship, the excellent IPS screen and the simplicity of use are weighty bonus points of this device. However, Android could at least gain ground in the last point. In terms of computing power, there’s not much difference between the Apple A5 processor, which is also found in the new iPhone 4S, and the Nvidia Tegra platform. The iPad is a solid tablet that should simply satisfy the user, not least because of the clever marketing… Acer BTP-60A1

Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101An author in our editorial office called the Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Tablet from Asus “The logical development of tablets”,Acer 4UR18650F-2-QC145 as it fuses two devices: First, an Android tablet with a 10.1 inch screen and second, a netbook. Other advantages of this concept are the IPS screen, the Tegra 2 dual core CPU and the additional interfaces on the keyboard dock. Significant drawbacks are the not inevitably very good mobility of this combination and the price of about €600 (keyboard only: €150). Basically a very good idea from Taiwan, which will likely soon have a new family member called Eee Transformer Prime.Acer 4UR18650F-2-QC185

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1NThere was a lot of commotion about the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 in the last weeks and months. Acer 916C4310F Apple saw its design patent infringed and Samsung had to consequently take its device from the German market, among others. Now the device is finally available again under the name “Galaxy Tab 10.1N” and with a slightly modified design, which especially stands out with the visible speakers on the front. The innards haven’t been changed. Nvidia’s Tegra 2 SoC (system-on-a-chip) and Google’s Android 3.2 operating system still create the backbone. The Galaxy Tab is likely one of the favorites among Apple’s Android contenders.Acer BATSQU410

Lenovo ThinkPad X121eIn the category of “endangered” netbooks, Acer BT.00603.002 the opinion in the editorial office tend to move away from the low-cost Intel Atom netbooks for around €300 or less, to the higher quality and more powerful options. The Lenovo ThinkPad X121e qualifies itself here in view of various configuration options, although it could pass as a subnotebook. Other advantages are the fast hard disk, easy expandability, a very long battery life, a matt 11.6 inch screen with a good brightness (1366×768) and not least, the interesting price-performance ratio. At a start price of about €360, it’s not much more expensive than other current netbooks, but it can offer a considerable added value in many points.Acer BT.00803.006

Alienware M17x R3When dealing with gaming notebooks, the name Alienware shouldn’t be omitted. Acer BT.00803.012 The Dell department has a high performance device in its range with the M17x. In the meantime, it’s available in its third generation (R3). The outstanding performance, including the automatic graphics switching Nvidia Optimus, the design and the good feel are convincing arguments for the 17.3 inch machine. It also moves more toward desktop replacements with a total weight of over four kilograms. The configuration diversity offered in the online shop also has to be emphasized additionally. The price starts at €1499 (RRP) in the mobile premium top range.Acer BT.00806.006

On the OpenOffice Spreadsheet test, the U46SV took 5 minutes and 33 seconds to match 20,000 names to their corresponding addresses, which is only slightly slower than the Inspiron 14z (5:28) and the Gateway ID47 (5:27). The category average is 6:10.HP HSTNN-YB02

In general, the U46SV offered swift performance–the notebook had no problem streaming music while we edited photos–but we noticed some lag when it was resuming from sleep. The cursor would take a few seconds to move.HP 367759-001

What separates the U46SV from most other 14-inch notebooks is that it packs discrete Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics (with 1GB of RAM) in addition to Intel integrated HD 3000 graphics.HP 382552-001 Optimus technology allows this laptop to switch between cards on the fly. In 3DMark 06, this machine notched a score of 8,939, more than twice the thin-and-light category average. The only other 14-inchers in this notebook’s league are the HP Envy 14 (7,240) and the MSI X460DX (8,799). The Dell XPS 14z scored a lower 5,461 on this test. On the more demanding 3DMark11, the U46SV outpaced the Envy 14 (1,098 vs 976).HP 383493-001

So what about gaming? We enjoyed rich and detailed visuals when playing the beginning sequence of Batman: Arkham City. Catwoman looked so realistic–from her lipstick to her slinky outfit–that we forgot for a moment we were playing a game. When the fighting started, the action slowed down at times but the title remained playable. We saw an average of 35 frames per second with DirectX 11 turned off, but a measly 13 fps with it turned on.HP 391883-001

When playing World of Warcraft, the U46SV returned a higher frame rate of 61 fps at 1366 x 768 with the settings on auto, and 54 fps at max settings. Far Cry 2 results were in between the above two games, at 52 and 45 fps, respectively. The U46SV isn’t a gaming rig by any stretch, but you can play popular mainstream titles on the go–which is saying a lot.HP 395751-321

Click to EnlargeThat beefy eight-cell battery comes in handy. On the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi, the ASUS U46SV lasted 6 hours and 52 minutes. That’s well over an hour longer than the category average (5:32) and the Dell XPS 14z (5:23). The HP Envy 14’s standard battery lasted only 4:57. However, the Gateway ID47’s battery took 7:48 to run out of juice.HP 396600-001

Click to EnlargeASUS bundles the U46SV with a large suite of software,HP 396601-001 many of which it organizes in an ASUSTools folder you can access directly from the desktop. You’ll find everything from AI Recovery Burner for backup to the LifeFrame webcam software and ASUS WebStorage. Under Safety & Protection you’ll find ASUS Secure Delete for shredding files and SmartLogon Manager for logging into your system with your face. System Tools highlights include Splendid Utility for tweaking display settings and Syncables Desktop for syncing files with other computers on your network. ASUS also includes its Vibe Fun Center, a games and entertainment portal.Third-party software offerings include Adobe Reader 9, a trial of Office 2010 (you can use the free Starter), and a trial of Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security.HP 398065-001

ASUS backs the U46SV with a two-year parts and labor warranty along with 24/7 tech support. The warranty includes one year of accidental damage and a 30-day zero bright dot guarantee on the display. Check out our Tech Support Showdown and Best & Worst Brand reports to see how well the brand fared.HP 398752-001

The ASUS U46 series includes models with integrated graphics, such as the U46E. The U46E-XH51, for example, costs $779 and comes with a 2.4-GHz Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB, 7,200-rpm hard drive. Our $879 U46SV-DH51 has a newer 2.4-GHz Core i4-2430M CPU, 8GB of RAM, a bigger but slower 750GB hard drive, and Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics. Our unit weighs 5 pounds, compared to 4.6 pounds for the U46E, so you’re trading more power for more bulk.HP 398832-001

Click to EnlargeThe ASUS U46SV certainly has the features and power to justify its price tag. For about $100 more than the integrated graphics version of this notebook,HP EG415AA you get an Nvidia GPU that lets you play some of today’s hottest games, plus long battery life and a good-looking chassis. You’ll also be able to hear games, movies, and music loud and clear, thanks to the Sonic Focus-powered speakers. What prevents us from giving this laptop a higher rating is the sometime erratic touchpad and the noisy and stiff mouse buttons. The Zenbook UX31 Ultrabook fell a little short for similar reasons. ASUS really needs to concentrate more on usability, because it makes the difference between a very good and great system.HP HSTNN-DB10

It may be just a refresh, but Gateway’s ID47H07u (a follow-up to the ID47H02u) is an improvement on an already-solid budget notebook. For the budget-conscious price of $699, you get a slick design, good audio quality, and impressive battery life. Our review gave the ID47H07u a full four stars, but chances are you’ll want to know a few more details before making that purchase.HP HSTNN-DB17

First thing’s first: This Gateway is a looker. We’re fans of the aluminum-alloy design and the ultra-thin bezel (which crams a 14-inch display into a space meant for 13-inch screens). At 4.4 pounds, it’s no ultraportable, but it’s hardly chunky. The ID47H07u also earned points for its strong audio quality, thanks in part to the included Dolby Home Theater v.4 software. And while this laptop is no graphics giant, it held its own on our benchmark. Finally, a battery life of 7:48 seals the deal; that’s more than 30 minutes longer than the thin-and-light average.HP HSTNN-IB09

Ads by GoogleHSBC Expat Expat.HSBC.com/Expat-Experts We Understand the Rewards and Challenges of Living Abroad. The ID47H07u does have some downsides, however. We found the touchpad to be a too sticky for our tastes, and the 14.1-inch display provided pretty narrow viewing angles. Keep in mind the $699 MSRP, though; you do get what you pay for, and the 1D47H07u gives you quite a lot for the price.HP HSTNN-IB10

Plain average. Toshiba brings a 15.6 inch notebook for €700 onto the market called Satellite L750. The multimedia notebook is to especially attract customers with average requirements and who want to occasionally play a little game besides Office tasks, pictures and movies.HP HSTNN-IB17

Toshiba’s Satellite L750 range clearly targets private customers. Toshiba advertises it as a stylish design piece for little money. However, the buyer’s wallet shouldn’t be too small either. The L750-16W costs €700 and if the Satellite will be seen as a design piece lies in the eye of the beholder.HP HSTNN-LB09

The specifications give hope for good performance: A new Intel Core i5 and the Nvidia GeForce GT 525M are built in as key components. The Satellite L755 is identical to the Satellite L750 range, but the latter has a superior configuration and also a higher price.HP HSTNN-LB17

The L755 in pearly whiteThe Toshiba L750-16W will be available in a gray-black design in stores. The display lid and the wrist rest are made of light gray, glossy plastic. There are different sized, bright dots on it, which merge to a diamond pattern when looking at it from a distance.The Satellite L750/L755 series is also available in black, white, red and chestnut brown. We have a Satellite L750 in zinc gray in review.HP HSTNN-MB09

The display lid is made of glossy, black plastic just like the loudspeaker bar, and the gray dots are also found here. The bottom is made of black plastic and has two maintenance covers.All corners and edges of the laptop are rounded. Users who want to maintain the surface shine will have to polish the many glossy surfaces often. Greasy stains and fingerprints also become quickly visible on the plastic.HP HSTNN-MB10

The Satellite is remarkably rigid. The display lid can be dent clearly, but no color distortions are passed on to the screen. The hinges are strong and have a good grip on the screen. But the base unit has to be held down to open the laptop because it would otherwise lift up along.HP HSTNN-OB17

The area of the optical drive can be dented a bit on the bottom. The rest of the notebook hardly yields. The area between the keyboard and display seem particularly stable. The base unit can’t be warped and doesn’t emit any creaking noises.HP HSTNN-UB09

The Satellite isn’t especially well equipped, but no particularly vital ports have been omitted either. The power socket is located on the rear right. It is followed by the DVD drive and two USB 2.0 ports. Between these there is a flap for a modem socket on the expensive models.The rear doesn’t have any interfaces. The 5in1 card reader, for MMC, MS/MS-PRO, SD and SDHC, is on the front.HP HSTNN-UB17

The mandatory Kensington lock is found on the rear left. That is followed by the vents and the Gigabit LAN socket. The VGA and HDMI ports are also found on the left front. A USB 3.0 port with charge function has been placed between that. Headphones and microphone can also be connected on the left front.HP PF723A

Toshiba hasn’t done a good job with the interface positioning. All ports are located on the front area of the sides. Consequently, the room beside the notebook is very limited when the ports are used.As usual, the network technology WLAN b/g/n and Gigabit LAN are on board. Apart from that, a few devices can also be connected to the notebook via the built-in Bluetooth 3.0 +HS. On the right, there is a symbol for a modem socket beside a flap. But it isn’t installed into this model. HP PM579A

Toshiba has equipped the Satellite generously with software. Besides the known Microsoft Office Starter, McAfee and Nero 10, Toshiba also installs its own programs. There are more or less useless programs among them, such as Toshiba’s energy management and face recognition software. Its error rate is high and a lot of patience is needed to log-on under Windows 7.HP 267747-001

The warranty includes a 2 year onsite pick-up service in Germany and Austria. The notebook has to be sent to a Toshiba Service Center from all other countries. The pick-up service isn’t a matter of course in the consumer range. The warranty can be extended for dealer-specific surcharges.HP 278418-B24

The built-in keyboard is made of rectangular keys that have been beveled on their edges. The arrow keys are separated from the rest of the keyboard, but aren’t quite as long as the other keys. The keyboard is surrounded by a high gloss bezel which quickly smudges. The keys can score with a clear pressure point and feedback. Every now and again two keys are pressed simultaneously due to the small gap between the keys.HP 278418-B25

A numpad is located beside the QWERTY keyboard. It facilitates entering long number columns considerably. The numpad first responds after pressing the NUM LOCK key. Otherwise it can only be used as arrow keys. Apart from the rather unobtrusive power button beside the speakers, the Satellite L750 doesn’t have any shortcut keys. HP 279665-001

The touchpad can’t be seen above the very striking mouse replacement keys at first glance. It is neither visibly nor palpably delimited. It only has a somewhat rougher texture than the wrist rest. Thus, the finger quickly leaves the sensitive field. It has good gliding traits, though. The touchpad’s size of 82mmx45mm is sufficient, but a bigger area would have been welcomed on a 15 inch device. The multi-touchpad comes from Synaptics and supports all common multi-finger functions. A small jump was noticed negatively when scrolling with two fingers.HP 280206-001

The touchpad keys can be discerned clearly from the surroundings both visibly and palpably. The key drop is very short, but the keys respond to all inputs flawlessly. A small button is located above the touchpad for disabling and enabling it.HP 280207-001

On the OpenOffice Spreadsheet test, the U46SV took 5 minutes and 33 seconds to match 20,000 names to their corresponding addresses, which is only slightly slower than the Inspiron 14z (5:28) and the Gateway ID47 (5:27). The category average is 6:10.HP HSTNN-YB02

In general, the U46SV offered swift performance–the notebook had no problem streaming music while we edited photos–but we noticed some lag when it was resuming from sleep. The cursor would take a few seconds to move.HP 367759-001

What separates the U46SV from most other 14-inch notebooks is that it packs discrete Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics (with 1GB of RAM) in addition to Intel integrated HD 3000 graphics.HP 382552-001 Optimus technology allows this laptop to switch between cards on the fly. In 3DMark 06, this machine notched a score of 8,939, more than twice the thin-and-light category average. The only other 14-inchers in this notebook’s league are the HP Envy 14 (7,240) and the MSI X460DX (8,799). The Dell XPS 14z scored a lower 5,461 on this test. On the more demanding 3DMark11, the U46SV outpaced the Envy 14 (1,098 vs 976).HP 383493-001

So what about gaming? We enjoyed rich and detailed visuals when playing the beginning sequence of Batman: Arkham City. Catwoman looked so realistic–from her lipstick to her slinky outfit–that we forgot for a moment we were playing a game. When the fighting started, the action slowed down at times but the title remained playable. We saw an average of 35 frames per second with DirectX 11 turned off, but a measly 13 fps with it turned on.HP 391883-001

When playing World of Warcraft, the U46SV returned a higher frame rate of 61 fps at 1366 x 768 with the settings on auto, and 54 fps at max settings. Far Cry 2 results were in between the above two games, at 52 and 45 fps, respectively. The U46SV isn’t a gaming rig by any stretch, but you can play popular mainstream titles on the go–which is saying a lot.HP 395751-321

Click to EnlargeThat beefy eight-cell battery comes in handy. On the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous surfing over Wi-Fi, the ASUS U46SV lasted 6 hours and 52 minutes. That’s well over an hour longer than the category average (5:32) and the Dell XPS 14z (5:23). The HP Envy 14’s standard battery lasted only 4:57. However, the Gateway ID47’s battery took 7:48 to run out of juice.HP 396600-001

Click to EnlargeASUS bundles the U46SV with a large suite of software,HP 396601-001 many of which it organizes in an ASUSTools folder you can access directly from the desktop. You’ll find everything from AI Recovery Burner for backup to the LifeFrame webcam software and ASUS WebStorage. Under Safety & Protection you’ll find ASUS Secure Delete for shredding files and SmartLogon Manager for logging into your system with your face. System Tools highlights include Splendid Utility for tweaking display settings and Syncables Desktop for syncing files with other computers on your network. ASUS also includes its Vibe Fun Center, a games and entertainment portal.Third-party software offerings include Adobe Reader 9, a trial of Office 2010 (you can use the free Starter), and a trial of Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security.HP 398065-001

ASUS backs the U46SV with a two-year parts and labor warranty along with 24/7 tech support. The warranty includes one year of accidental damage and a 30-day zero bright dot guarantee on the display. Check out our Tech Support Showdown and Best & Worst Brand reports to see how well the brand fared.HP 398752-001

The ASUS U46 series includes models with integrated graphics, such as the U46E. The U46E-XH51, for example, costs $779 and comes with a 2.4-GHz Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB, 7,200-rpm hard drive. Our $879 U46SV-DH51 has a newer 2.4-GHz Core i4-2430M CPU, 8GB of RAM, a bigger but slower 750GB hard drive, and Nvidia GeForce GT540M graphics. Our unit weighs 5 pounds, compared to 4.6 pounds for the U46E, so you’re trading more power for more bulk.HP 398832-001

Click to EnlargeThe ASUS U46SV certainly has the features and power to justify its price tag. For about $100 more than the integrated graphics version of this notebook,HP EG415AA you get an Nvidia GPU that lets you play some of today’s hottest games, plus long battery life and a good-looking chassis. You’ll also be able to hear games, movies, and music loud and clear, thanks to the Sonic Focus-powered speakers. What prevents us from giving this laptop a higher rating is the sometime erratic touchpad and the noisy and stiff mouse buttons. The Zenbook UX31 Ultrabook fell a little short for similar reasons. ASUS really needs to concentrate more on usability, because it makes the difference between a very good and great system.HP HSTNN-DB10

It may be just a refresh, but Gateway’s ID47H07u (a follow-up to the ID47H02u) is an improvement on an already-solid budget notebook. For the budget-conscious price of $699, you get a slick design, good audio quality, and impressive battery life. Our review gave the ID47H07u a full four stars, but chances are you’ll want to know a few more details before making that purchase.HP HSTNN-DB17

First thing’s first: This Gateway is a looker. We’re fans of the aluminum-alloy design and the ultra-thin bezel (which crams a 14-inch display into a space meant for 13-inch screens). At 4.4 pounds, it’s no ultraportable, but it’s hardly chunky. The ID47H07u also earned points for its strong audio quality, thanks in part to the included Dolby Home Theater v.4 software. And while this laptop is no graphics giant, it held its own on our benchmark. Finally, a battery life of 7:48 seals the deal; that’s more than 30 minutes longer than the thin-and-light average.HP HSTNN-IB09

Ads by GoogleHSBC Expat Expat.HSBC.com/Expat-Experts We Understand the Rewards and Challenges of Living Abroad. The ID47H07u does have some downsides, however. We found the touchpad to be a too sticky for our tastes, and the 14.1-inch display provided pretty narrow viewing angles. Keep in mind the $699 MSRP, though; you do get what you pay for, and the 1D47H07u gives you quite a lot for the price.HP HSTNN-IB10

Plain average. Toshiba brings a 15.6 inch notebook for €700 onto the market called Satellite L750. The multimedia notebook is to especially attract customers with average requirements and who want to occasionally play a little game besides Office tasks, pictures and movies.HP HSTNN-IB17

Toshiba’s Satellite L750 range clearly targets private customers. Toshiba advertises it as a stylish design piece for little money. However, the buyer’s wallet shouldn’t be too small either. The L750-16W costs €700 and if the Satellite will be seen as a design piece lies in the eye of the beholder.HP HSTNN-LB09

The specifications give hope for good performance: A new Intel Core i5 and the Nvidia GeForce GT 525M are built in as key components. The Satellite L755 is identical to the Satellite L750 range, but the latter has a superior configuration and also a higher price.HP HSTNN-LB17

The L755 in pearly whiteThe Toshiba L750-16W will be available in a gray-black design in stores. The display lid and the wrist rest are made of light gray, glossy plastic. There are different sized, bright dots on it, which merge to a diamond pattern when looking at it from a distance.The Satellite L750/L755 series is also available in black, white, red and chestnut brown. We have a Satellite L750 in zinc gray in review.HP HSTNN-MB09

The display lid is made of glossy, black plastic just like the loudspeaker bar, and the gray dots are also found here. The bottom is made of black plastic and has two maintenance covers.All corners and edges of the laptop are rounded. Users who want to maintain the surface shine will have to polish the many glossy surfaces often. Greasy stains and fingerprints also become quickly visible on the plastic.HP HSTNN-MB10

The Satellite is remarkably rigid. The display lid can be dent clearly, but no color distortions are passed on to the screen. The hinges are strong and have a good grip on the screen. But the base unit has to be held down to open the laptop because it would otherwise lift up along.HP HSTNN-OB17

The area of the optical drive can be dented a bit on the bottom. The rest of the notebook hardly yields. The area between the keyboard and display seem particularly stable. The base unit can’t be warped and doesn’t emit any creaking noises.HP HSTNN-UB09

The Satellite isn’t especially well equipped, but no particularly vital ports have been omitted either. The power socket is located on the rear right. It is followed by the DVD drive and two USB 2.0 ports. Between these there is a flap for a modem socket on the expensive models.The rear doesn’t have any interfaces. The 5in1 card reader, for MMC, MS/MS-PRO, SD and SDHC, is on the front.HP HSTNN-UB17

The mandatory Kensington lock is found on the rear left. That is followed by the vents and the Gigabit LAN socket. The VGA and HDMI ports are also found on the left front. A USB 3.0 port with charge function has been placed between that. Headphones and microphone can also be connected on the left front.HP PF723A

Toshiba hasn’t done a good job with the interface positioning. All ports are located on the front area of the sides. Consequently, the room beside the notebook is very limited when the ports are used.As usual, the network technology WLAN b/g/n and Gigabit LAN are on board. Apart from that, a few devices can also be connected to the notebook via the built-in Bluetooth 3.0 +HS. On the right, there is a symbol for a modem socket beside a flap. But it isn’t installed into this model. HP PM579A

Toshiba has equipped the Satellite generously with software. Besides the known Microsoft Office Starter, McAfee and Nero 10, Toshiba also installs its own programs. There are more or less useless programs among them, such as Toshiba’s energy management and face recognition software. Its error rate is high and a lot of patience is needed to log-on under Windows 7.HP 267747-001

The warranty includes a 2 year onsite pick-up service in Germany and Austria. The notebook has to be sent to a Toshiba Service Center from all other countries. The pick-up service isn’t a matter of course in the consumer range. The warranty can be extended for dealer-specific surcharges.HP 278418-B24

The built-in keyboard is made of rectangular keys that have been beveled on their edges. The arrow keys are separated from the rest of the keyboard, but aren’t quite as long as the other keys. The keyboard is surrounded by a high gloss bezel which quickly smudges. The keys can score with a clear pressure point and feedback. Every now and again two keys are pressed simultaneously due to the small gap between the keys.HP 278418-B25

A numpad is located beside the QWERTY keyboard. It facilitates entering long number columns considerably. The numpad first responds after pressing the NUM LOCK key. Otherwise it can only be used as arrow keys. Apart from the rather unobtrusive power button beside the speakers, the Satellite L750 doesn’t have any shortcut keys. HP 279665-001

The touchpad can’t be seen above the very striking mouse replacement keys at first glance. It is neither visibly nor palpably delimited. It only has a somewhat rougher texture than the wrist rest. Thus, the finger quickly leaves the sensitive field. It has good gliding traits, though. The touchpad’s size of 82mmx45mm is sufficient, but a bigger area would have been welcomed on a 15 inch device. The multi-touchpad comes from Synaptics and supports all common multi-finger functions. A small jump was noticed negatively when scrolling with two fingers.HP 280206-001

The touchpad keys can be discerned clearly from the surroundings both visibly and palpably. The key drop is very short, but the keys respond to all inputs flawlessly. A small button is located above the touchpad for disabling and enabling it.HP 280207-001

Of all the iPad cases we’ve tested recently,Acer UM08A73 Kensington’s is the most like a notebook’s, as it has dedicated Pause/Break and Printscreen buttons in the function row. We’re not sure how necessary they are, though. Better to have more iPad-centric keys, such as cut and paste. We do like the Kensington includes a .com key, which is thoughtful, but it’s at the expense of the right Shift key, which is shrunken too much.The Keyfolio Pro is rated for 90 hours of battery life, the same as the ClamCase, and about 30 hours longer than the Belkin Keyboard Folio.Acer UM08A74

If you’re in the market for an iPad keyboard case that lets you work in landscape or portrait mode, the $99 Kensington Keyfolio Pro is the one to get. Not only is it attractive, but it’s highly functional, too. A few minor tweaks would make it even better, overall this accessory is a very good choice.Acer UM08B71

Kensington has been in the iPad accessory game for a while, and it shows. The $99 Keyfolio Pro is not only an attractive iPad 2 keyboard case, but it’s well thought out also. This case lets you rotate your iPad into landscape or portrait mode, and provides a comfortable keyboard for typing.Acer UM08B72

ReviewSpecifications.For those who find 9- and 10-inch slates too large to carry everywhere, 7-inch tablets provide greater portability and easier one-handed use. With competitors such as Acer, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Lenovo, and Samsung making 7-inch devices, Toshiba is entering an already crowded market with its new slate. However the new Thrive 7-inch brings some compelling favors to the party, including a high-resolution 1280 x 800 screen and an attractive design. But is this Tegra 2-toting tablet worth its relatively high $379 price?Acer UM08B73

Click to EnlargeOne of the most stylish tablets with this size display, the Thrive 7-inch shares the same aesthetic as its bigger brother, the 10-inch Toshiba Thrive. It has a luxurious rubberized back with a textured ridge surface that’s easy to grip. Classy chrome rings the front and rear cameras. As on the elder Thrive, the cameras sit on the short side of the device, making it a little too easy to cover the back-facing lens with your thumb when filming with the device in landscape mode.Acer UM08B74

While the 10-inch Toshiba Thrive was one of the bulkiest tablets on the market, its 7-inch brother is one of the lightest, making it well suited for one hand use. At 7.4 x 5. x 0.5 inches and 13.3 ounces, the 7-inch Thrive is thicker and heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (12.2 ounces, 7.6 x 4 x 0.4 inches). However, it’s lighter than the Acer Iconia Tab A100 (14.7 ounces, 4.6 x 7.7 x 0.5 inches), the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet (14.2 ounces, 8 x 5 x 0.48 inches), and the Kindle Fire (14.6 ounces, 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.5 inches).Acer ZG5

Click to EnlargeOn the Thrive 7-inch’s left long side sit a volume rocker, power button, and orientation lock switch, along with a rubber port cover that hides the mircoUSB, microSD card reader, and microHDMI out ports. A 3.5mm headphone jack is located on the tablet’s short side top, with a proprietary docking station on the bottom.Acer AS07B71

Extremely rare among tablets, the Thrive 7-inch can charge when the docking cable is connected to a PC’s USB port, though it also comes with an AC adapter that lets it juice from an outlet. However, if you want to copy files from a PC, you must connect using the microUSB port rather than the docking cable.acer al10a13

Click to EnlargeThe Thrive 7-inch’s bright, colorful screen is the sharpest you’ll find on a 7-inch slate, thanks to its 1280 x 800 resolution. Most 7-inchers provide only 1024 x 600. That gives the Thrive an impressive pixel density of 215.63 PPI, much higher than other 7-inch tablets’ density of 169.55 PPI or 10.1-inchers’ density of 149.45 PPI. This higher density means much sharper images when you’re surfing the web, gaming, or playing videos.acer al10a31

When we streamed an HD trailer for The Avengers, images were extremely sharp and colors such as the blue in Captain America’s costume and red in Thor’s cape really popped. Colors remained vibrant even at 180-degree viewing angles and with the screen titled way back. At full brightness, the Thrive’s screen measured an impressive 355 lux on our light meter. Both the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet have brighter displays–460 and 392 lux respectively–but neither has a screen that’s as sharp as the Thrive’s.acer al10b31

When we played the jet-skiing game Riptide, objects such as the jet ski and our character’s helmet were much crisper than they were on the 10.1-inch Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Even when we read news articles on Cnn.com and NYTimes.com, text seemed crisper than on other tablets we’ve used.acer al10bw

The stereo speakers on the Thrive 7-inch produced reasonably accurate sound that’s loud enough to hear across a small room, though the audio was a bit flat. When we streamed Patrice Rushen’s bass-heavy “Forget Me Nots” from Rhapsody and Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” from Slacker, the music was accurate and free of distortion and tininess. However, because the speakers are mounted on the left short side, it’s easy to accidentally cover them when holding the Thrive in landscape mode.acer al10g31

Click to EnlargeWhen positioned in landscape mode, the Thrive 7-inch’s screen is the ideal size for effective thumb-typing, as each hand can reach toward the middle of the keyboard with great ease. By default, the Thrive 7-inch is set to use Android 3.2’s stock keyboard, but Swype is also available. Many users will prefer Swype’s method of forming letters by tracing lines between keys, but we were annoyed by its inability to deal with new words as it kept autocompleting to “scream” when we tried to trace “Avram.”acer bt.00603.121

Though it is disabled by default, the Thrive 7-inch supports haptic feedback on either of its keyboards to provide tactile feedback as you type. With haptic feedback enabled on the stock keyboard, the Thrive 7-inch provided one of the most comfortable and accurate typing experiences we’ve had on an Android tablet.Acer LC.BTP00.008

Click to EnlargeApart from setting the default wallpaper to an attractive red-and-black abstract pattern, Toshiba has made no changes to Google’s Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system. Users unfamiliar with Honeycomb will appreciate its power and flexibility, but the software has a steeper learning curve compared to iOS for the iPad.Acer LC.BTP00.014

The Honeycomb OS has five customizable home screens for displaying widgets and shortcuts to your favorite apps. The lower left-hand corner of the screen contains virtual Back,Home, and Layers buttons, the latter of which shows thumbnails for each open application to make task-switching easy. Notifications appear along the bottom right, next to the time and battery icons. Tapping the battery icon also brings up a quick notifications/settings list, which lets you adjust the brightness and change the wireless without leaving your current app.Acer BATCL50L

All Honeycomb tablets come with a number of Google applications that are designed to take advantage of the large screen. Both the email (POP, IMAP, Exchange) and Gmail clients have two panes, one for viewing the contents of your inbox and another for reading the current message. The stock Honeycomb browser supports multiple tabs to make switching between different sites easy. The Thrive 7-inch comes pre-loaded with Google’s Android Market, which provides access to more than 300,000 apps. (Only about 5,000 of these have been specially optimized for tablets.)Acer BATCL50L4

With its dual-core 1-GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 CPU and 1GB of RAM, the Thrive 7-inch packs plenty of power. In our testing, the tablet was more than capable of delivering eye-popping graphics on intense 3D games such as Need for Speed Shift and Riptide GP. Playing high-quality videos, surfing the web, and taking pictures were also no problem. Like all Android tablets we’ve tested, the Thrive 7-inch suffered from occasional moments of lag when we tried to move from one task to another too quickly, but these moments were fewer than on most other tablets we’ve used.Acer UM09G31

The Thrive 7-inch performed well on all the synthetic benchmarks we threw at it. On the Benchmark CPU test, it scored a strong 3,008, well above the tablet category average of 2,680 and about on par with the Tegra 2-powered Acer Iconia Tab A100’s score of 3018. The Toshiba was just a tiny bit behind the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet (3,056) and the Amazon Kindle Fire (3,069), both of which use 1-GHz TI OMAP 4 processors. The 1.2-GHz Samsung Exynos powered Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus scored a much higher 3,353.Acer UM09G41

The Thrive 7-inch scored a respectable 7,635 on An3DBench, which measures graphics prowess, far better than the 7,156 tablet category average, the 7,006 provided by the Kindle Fire, and the 7,120 offered by the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus turned in a higher 7,899, and the Acer Iconia Tab A100 scored 8,081. However, both of those tablets have lower-resolution screens than the Thrive 7-inch.Acer UM09G51

The Toshiba Thrive 7-inch lasted a mediocre time of 5 hours and 18 minutes on the LAPTOP Battery Test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 40-percent brightness. That time is well behind the tablet category average of 6 hours and 42 minutes, the Kindle Fire’s time of 7:34, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus’ time of 7:18.Acer UM09H31

Click to EnlargeThe 5-megapixel rear-facing camera took mediocre pictures that were about on par with those we’ve seen from other 5-MP tablets. Shots of city skyscrapers showed a fair amount of detail, but were more than a little bit white washed. Colors were rather muted in a picture of orange flowers.When we shot a 720p video of a rooftop in the later afternoon, images looked sharper and cleaner, though not at all bright or colorful.Acer UM09H41

Click to EnlargeThe 2-MP front-facing camera took dark, shadowy images of our face in low light and oversatured images when we sat under a lamp. Motion was fairly smooth when we conducted a Skype call with a Windows PC on the other end, though our picture froze a number of times.Acer BT.00803.005

Click to EnlargeToshiba includes very few apps to supplement Android 3.2’s built-in selection. Toshiba File Manager provides access to the device’s internal memory and any external drives or SD cards you plug in. Toshiba Media Player lets you play locally stored video files, and Toshiba Service Station checks for software updates.Acer BT.3506.001

The Thrive also includes a trial versions of Kaspersky Antivirus and the racing game Need for Speed Shift. QuickOffice HD lets you open, but not edit, Office documents. PrinterShare allows you to print to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth printers. Hardwood games, including Backgammon, Euchre, Solitaire, Hearts, and Spades, are also included.Acer BT.T3504.001

Click to EnlargeThe Thrive 7-inch’s sharp 1280 x 800 screen–an industry first for a tablet this size–turns gaming, movie watching, or reading into a visual feast. Throw in a stylish, lightweight chassis and you have one of the better premium 7-inch Android Honeycomb slates on the market. However, the mediocre battery life holds this slate back.Acer BT.T3506.001

Consider the $199 Amazon Kindle Fire if you’re looking to save money and are willing to sacrifice the flexibility of the full Android 3.2 operating system. If you want longer battery life at about the same price, the $399 Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is the better choice. The Samsung also has a thinner design and doubles as a smart TV remote. However, if you want the 7-inch tablet with the best visual experience, focus your sights on the Thrive 7-inch.Acer LC.BTP00.004

Galaxy Nexus Launches Tomorrow on Verizon for $299Tests Show Batman: Arkham City Requires a High-end Notebook GPU9-inch Nextbook Premium Tablet from E Fun Available 12/20

Toshiba Thrive 7″ Hands-On: First 7-inch Tablet With 1280 x 800 ScreenTop 10 iPad AlternativesToshiba Rumored to be Unveiling Ultra-Thin Tablet at IFAAdvertisement ..Acer LC.BTP04.001

The Verdict: The 14-inch IdeaPad U400 has a sleek design and discrete graphics, but an over-sensitive touchpad and the lack of an SD card slot dampen our enthusiasm. Tests graphics performance.Score (Higher is Better)next test.Lenovo IdeaPad U400ASUS U46SVDell XPS 14zGateway ID47H07uCategory Average44898939546141674714 0 1700 3400 5100 6800 8500 10200.Acer BT.T5003.001

Unfortunately, none of the keyboards support haptic feedback. Though not everyone likes having the screen vibrate when they hit a key, we like having the option to have our tablet more closely emulate a physical keyboard.HP 338794-001

Click to EnlargeUnlike HTC and Lenovo, which sell styluses for their tablets at an additional cost,HP 342661-001 Motorola includes an active stylus with the Xyboard 10.1. Unfortunately, the stylus feels thrown in, with weak performance, an uncomfortable feel, and few pen-friendly apps pre-loaded on the tablet. The stylus itself is larger and feels more like a real pen than the HTC and Lenovo styluses, but its thick point doesn’t have any flexibility, so it feels unnaturally hard when held against the glass screen. Worse, we experienced noticeable lag when writing on the screen; tracing letters with our finger seemed faster. Motorola must not expect you to take the stylus with you, as the tablet doesn’t provide a place to store it while you’re in transit.HP 345027-001

In addition to the MyScript stylus keyboard, Motorola includes just one app that works natively with the stylus. Skitch is a simple drawing application that allows you to make very basic sketches with just a few colors to choose from, add letters and arrows, and draw on top of photos. The Xyboard also includes ColorNote and Evernote for note-taking, but neither one supports pen input. Fortunately, the pen can work just like your finger to tap the keyboard and icons, so you can use it even on apps that don’t explicitly support it.HP DM842A

Click to EnlargeMotorola didn’t make any significant changes to Google’s Android 3.2 operating system, only tweaking the default wallpaper, the applications menu button on the upper right of the home screens, and the shortcut icons for the browser, calendar, email, gallery, settings, and tasks. Despite the changed icons, these built-in applications are exactly the same as on every other Android Honeycomb device.HP PP2182D

Users unfamiliar with Honeycomb will appreciate the built-in email, Gmail, and calendar apps that take advantage of the tablet’s wider screen by offering dual-paned views in landscape mode. For example, you can see your inbox on one of the screens and the current message on the other. Honeycomb also makes switching between tasks as easy as tapping the layers button on the lower-left portion of the screen and selecting from a thumbnail list of open apps.HP PP2182L

Some may find the Droid Xyboard’s aesthetic a little too aggressive, but we like it. One thing we didn’t like, though, was the placement of the power and volume control buttons on the back of the tablet; they’re too hard to locate by feel.laptop battery HP BQ350AA

Click to EnlargeThe Xyboard’s 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 screen is one of the brightest and most colorful we’ve seen, measuring 405 lux on our lightmeter test, comfortably above the 370 lux tablet average and on par with the 396 lux offered by the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. When we streamed an HD YouTube trailer for The Avengers on the Xyboard 10.1, images were crisp, smooth, and colorful, even at extremely wide viewing angles to the left and right.laptop battery HP HSTNN-CB1A

However, colors such as the red in Thor’s cape and the blue in Captain America’s uniform were a bit more vibrant on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and images were a little sharper on the Xyboard 8.2, which packs the same amount of pixels onto a smaller screen. Also, we noticed that the screen picked up fingerprints very easily.laptop battery HP 434045-141

Believe it or not, you can almost use the Xyboard 10.1 as a mini stereo, because the back-mounted speakers are just that good. When we streamed Everlast’s “What It’s Like” from Slacker and played “Forget Me Nots” from YouTube, the music was loud enough to fill a large room and rich enough to match at least a bookshelf stereo. The speakers are conveniently mounted on the back top of the device, a spot you’re unlikely to cover when holding the device in either landscape or portrait mode.laptop battery HP 434045-621

Whether you want to tap a traditional QWERTY style keyboard, trace your words, or hand-write them, the Xyboard 10.1 has you covered with four different virtual keyboards. Enabled by default, the stock Android 3.2 keyboard is the same on every tablet with this operating system, featuring a standard QWERTY layout with large, dark-gray keys.laptop battery HP 434045-661

Click to EnlargeSwype lets you form words by tracing lines between letters and enables much faster entry if it correctly identifies your intended word. However, on a number of occasions in our testing, the tracer incorrectly autocompleted words it didn’t know. For example, it turned “ziva” into “zoos,” and the only way to get our intended word was to erase the autocomplete and tap on the keys.laptop battery HP 438134-001

Click to EnlargeSwiftKey X promises better-quality autocompletes than other keyboards, but its real key feature is a split-keyboard mode that places half the letters on the left side and half on the right with a numeric keypad in the middle. With the split keyboard, we were able to thumb-type in landscape mode, which increased our typing speed.laptop battery HP 438518-001

MyScript Stylus replaceslaptop battery HP HSTNN-FB39 the traditional QWERTY keyboard model with a drawing area you can use to write letters either with the Xyboard’s bundled active stylus or with your finger. You can write the letters in a dedicated drawing area at the bottom of the screen or change modes and draw them directly on top of the text area you’re targeting. Either way, MyScript converts your handwriting into standard ASCII text, and in our testing it did so with reasonable accuracy. At many points, MyScript was able to convert our horrible handwriting into our intended words, but its autocomplete often returned the wrong words. We recommend trying the keyboard’s character-by-character mode, which lets you write one letter at a time and doesn’t attempt to autocomplete your words.laptop battery HP HSTNN-IB39

Motorola promises an update to the newer Ice Cream Sandwich OS, but it hasn’t provided a time line. Some may want to hold off on purchasing this tablet until the upgrade comes, because it will significantly improve usability. For instance, you’ll be able to close apps by simply swiping them off the screen. You’ll also get a new People app for managing your contacts, better folder support and improved text input, an enhanced web browser, and new photo-editing capabilities.HP 4UR18650-2-7

Click to EnlargeThanks to its infrared sensor,HP F1739A the Motorola Droid Xyboard 10.1 can also double as a universal remote. Using the pre-loaded Dijit app, we were able to connect the tablet to both our cable box and our TV set with just a few quick taps. After we entered our ZIP code and selected our cable provider, Dijit showed us a useful three-pane view with a list of current programs in the left pane, detail about a selected show in the center, and remote control buttons in the right pane.HP F1739B

Overall, channel surfing with the Xyboard 10.1 was easy and pleasant, thanks to all the additional information Dijit provides about each show, including episode summaries, lists of upcoming episodes, and cast information. However, because the infrared port is positioned on the top surface of the tablet, we could not change channels unless the device was completely flat on our lap–not propped up as we would have liked.HP F1753-60978

Click to EnlargeIn our nationwide tests, Verizon’s LTE network offered the fastest speeds of any 4G network, so it was no surprise that the Droid Xyboard 10.1 delivered incredibly fast downloads. In our New York apartment, ESPN.com loaded in average of 6.3 seconds, Laptopmag.com in just 8.6 seconds, and the mobile version of NYTimes.com in just 2.8 seconds. On Speedtest.net, the Xyboard averaged an amazing 26.7 Mbps down and 7.5 Mbps up, with download speeds going as high as 32.2 Mbps.Compaq 336962-001

The Xyboard 10.1 can also tether to your notebook via USB or double as a Wi-Fi hotspot so you can get up to 5 devices online at once with its 4G connection. Unlike with its phones, Verizon does not charge extra for tethering with this tablet.Compaq 337607-001

Click to EnlargeWith its 1.2-GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU and 1GB of RAM, Compaq 337607-002the Droid Xyboard 10.1 had no problem playing HD videos, surfing the web, and zooming around the track in demanding 3D games such as Riptide GP. However, we experienced more instances of lag and bugginess on the Xyboard than on most recent Android tablets we’ve tested. Whether it was YouTube locking up and turning into a black screen, shortcuts in the app menu failing to launch when we tapped them, or letters that we typed into the email software showing up a couple of seconds after we tapped them another time, there were a few instances where the Xyboard did not feel smooth.Compaq PP2080

The accelerometer also seemed slow to register changes. When we moved from landscape to portrait mode or vice versa, we often experienced a couple seconds of delay. Additionally, our jet ski kept bumping into the rails in Riptide GP because the Xyboard was slow to register our tilts.Compaq PP2082P

Despite our experience, the OMAP CPU enabled the Xyboard to yield solid numbers on synthetic benchmarks. HP 337607-003On Linpack, an overall performance benchmark, the Xyboard scored 45.56 in single-threaded mode and 39.28 in multi-threaded mode. While the single-threaded number compares favorably to the Tegra 2-powered ThinkPad Tablet’s score of 36.8 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1’s mark of 29.4, those tablets scored much-higher marks of 63.3 and 53.7 in multi-threaded mode. The quad-core Tegra 3 Eee Pad Transformer Prime blew them all away with a single-threaded score of 47.36 and a multi-threaded score of 70.27.HP DG103A

On the graphics benchmark An3DBench, the Xyboard scored a respectable 7,237, just about even with the 7,156 tablet category average, but a bit below the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (7,616) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet (7,703). The Eee Pad Transformer Prime’s score of 8,050 was miles ahead.HP DL615A

Click to EnlargeThe 5-megapixel back camera on the Droid Xyboard 10.1 captured sharp, colorful images that had no trace of white washing like we’ve seen on some other tablets such as the Toshiba Thrive 7-inch. Pictures of a cityscape taken in mid-afternoon light were extremely detailed, and colors–such as the green on a roof–really popped.HP F2019A

The camera shot equally colorful and detailed 720p video. When we captured a clip of the same cityscape, images were just as crisp; the camera remained focused even as we panned around quickly.The 1.3-MP front camera took reasonably detailed images of our face, even in low light. When we conducted a Google Talk video call from our dimly lit living room, our face was fairly bright and motion was smooth, though it appeared blocky to other callers over both 4G LTE and Wi-Fi.HP F2019B

The Droid Xyboard 10.1 is one of the slowest-charging devices we’ve ever tested. Even after being plugged into an AC outlet for 5 hours, the tablet had only gone from a 15- to 90-percent charge, and then it got stuck at 90 percent and would not charge all the way to 100 percent. Though the device is supposed to charge all the way to 100-percent capacity, a Motorola representative confirmed that charge times of 5 hours are typical and it could take even longer if you use the tablet while it is charging.HP 463305-341

The pad has horizontal and vertical scroll bars. The horizontal scroll bar is disabled in the state of delivery. The scroll areas aren’t any longer mandatory because of the two finger detection. Users can scroll vertically and horizontally with one placed and one sliding finger.Acer TravelMate 7530G Battery

The reflective AUO screen (AUO B156XW04 V0) has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. This WXGA resolution is today’s standard in a 15.6 incher. A finer resolution would increase the overview on complex program windows. But current (demanding) games wouldn’t be rendered smoothly by the HD 5650 in a higher resolution.Acer TravelMate 7530 Battery

The AUO screen has a moderate contrast of 186:1. Such a rate is typical for office and most multimedia notebooks. A contrast richer TFT would have made sense in relation to the gaming ambition. However, we would like to point out that really good screens are hardly ever installed.Acer TravelMate 7330 Battery

The screen is absolutely unsuitable for professionals in image processing already because of the reflections on the glare type surface. The narrow, standard color spectrum also doesn’t advocate this, just as much as the low resolution.Acer TravelMate 7230 Battery

The TFT’s brightness assessment doesn’t supply any breathtaking results. It is averagely 186 cd/m2. The illumination of 90 percent is very good. If you look at a black screen, you won’t see any bright spots.Going out in the sun with the 5820TG isn’t much fun with the low brightness and glare type TFT, either. The test device develops disturbing reflections and the desktop simply remains too dark. This screen is definitely not designated for the sun.Acer Extensa 7630G Battery

Frontal view - sunlight from the rightThe view can deviate up to 40 degrees on the horizontal plane. The display first dims and colors invert as of there. This effect already starts with the slightest deviation on the vertical plane, so about 15 degrees. We experience especially major restrictions in a lateral view from above or below.Acer Extensa 7630 Battery

Acer equips the 5820TG with a brand new Intel Core i5-460M. In comparison to the initial Arrandale chips, the clock rates have been slightly increased. The L2/L3 cache (512KB/3MB) has remained unchanged. An Intel HD graphics unit and a memory controller for DDR3 800/1066 are still installed. The Arrandale processors’ refresh has only recently been announced: Intel Core i3/i5/i7 “Arrandale” CPU Refresh.Acer Extensa 7230 Battery

The CPU has two physical cores with 2.53 GHz each and is manufactured in a 32nm lithography process. The processor is so new that even the latest CPU-Z version only detects it as a 540M. The 460M’s real clock rate fluctuates between 2.53 and 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost. Intel’s technology makes a dynamic overclocking of a single or both processor cores possible.Acer Aspire 8920G Battery

As usual, Hyper Threading is also included. It provides both physical cores with two virtual ones. Thus, applications can calculate with up to four threads. 4096 MB of DDR3 RAM are installed into the 5820TG. They are on two RAM modules and have become a quasi-standard for Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit in the meantime.Acer Aspire 8920 Battery

We could compare the new processors in our article about the Intel Core i3/i5/i7 “Arrandale” CPU Refresh. The now determined rendering points deviate slightly from the 460M figures therein. This could, however, be due to the not ultimate BIOS of that test device.Acer Aspire 8730ZG Battery

The 5820TG that we have scores with its i5-460M as follows: The processor test, Cinebench R11.5 (64 bit) rewards the test system with 2.2 points. 520M CPUs also score 2.2 points (same standard clocking!). A 430M achieves 2.0 points and an i3-330M only reaches 1.75 points.Acer Aspire 8730Z Battery

The 460M triumphs over the lower clocked 430M in single core calculations (standard 2.26, turbo 2.53 GHz). The latter reaches up to 3362 points (Cinebench R10 Single Core 64 bit, Sony Vaio VPC-EB1S1E/BJ). The 460M in the test device achieves 3839 points. That is an increase of 12 percent. The 460M can also hold its own against the 520M (3624 to 3815, Lenovo Thinkpad T410s; Asus G73JH).Acer Aspire 8730G Battery

In short: The i5-460M (2.53 GHz) can compete with a 520M in processing and is faster than a 430M. The higher turbo clock rate of 2.93 GHz doesn’t seem to contribute anything to the 520M in the synthetic comparison.Acer Aspire 8730 Battery

GPUZ Intel HDEither an ATI GPU, the Mobility Radeon HD5650, or an Intel GMA HD graphics solution, incorporated in the Intel CPU, takes care of the pending pixel calculations on the graphics side. Unlike Nvidia Optimus systems, the user has to decide which graphic chip he wants to use with the ATI solution. Switching has to be initiated by a few mouse clicks. Active programs have to be closed (including browser windows). Acer Aspire 7738 Battery

5.9Windows 7 Experience IndexProcessorCalculations per second6.8Memory (RAM)Memory operations per second5.9GraphicsDesktop performance for Windows Aero6.7Gaming graphics3D business and gaming graphics6.7Primary hard diskDisk data transfer rate5.9 CB10 Rendering Single 32Bit 3090 pointsAcer Aspire 7735Z Battery

PCMark Vantage assesses a score of 5745 (HD 5650 active). This rate visualizes the application speed. The Timeline X 5820TG has moved closer to performance machines, like Apple’ MacBook Pro 17 inch 2010-04 (540M, GT 330M) or Acer’s Aspire 8943G (720QM, HD 5850), due to the strong processor. But this cannot only be ascribed to the CPU. The fast Western Digital HDD and RAM, as well as the GPU contribute their share. The total score sinks to 5443 points with enabled Intel HD.Acer Aspire 7735 Battery

The 750 GB HDD (Western Digital WD7500BPVT-22HXZT1) isn’t a lame duck despite its 5400 rpm. It reads with 73.1 MB/s in sequential read (HD Tune). Crystal Disk Mark even shows 85.72 MB/s (test always measures higher than HD Tune).Acer Aspire 7730ZG Battery

These data rates are above average for a 2.5 inch HDD with 5400 rpm. Usually, only 7200 rpm hard disks achieve a HDD score of 3569 points (PCMark Vantage sub score). The burst rate of 87.3 MB/s is quite good and indicates a fast HDD cache.Acer Aspire 7730Z Battery

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 - smooth in high detailsThe ATI Radeon HD 5650 (1024 MB GDDR3) makes the kickoff as the graphics core. The core clocks with 550 MHz, the memory with 800 MHz. So Acer doesn’t downclock the GPU, as Sony did in the Vaio VPC-EB1S1E/BJ. The HD 5640 is the strongest GPU in ATI’s midrange and the mobile community has been talking about its gaming capabilities all year long.Acer Aspire 9504WSMi Battery

3DMark2006 finishes with 6903 points. A very good rate for this GPU, which can only be boosted in a combination with a i7-720QM. Deviltech Fire DTX: 7076 3DMarks06. Even Nvidia’s GT 330M together with an i7-740QM is significantly inferior. Sony Vaio VPC-F12Z1E/BI: 6574 points.Acer TravelMate 4200 Battery

Will the real gaming performance confirm the synthetic and obsolete 3DMark06? Since the HD 5650 has already been tested extensively with all games in our data base, we’ve decided not to make a detailed gaming check. We’ll only test a CPU and GPU intensive game to draw conclusions about the new i5-460M processor.Acer TravelMate 4230 Battery

The highly decorated first person shooter from Electronic Arts has already been able to acquaint itself with the HD 5650 in previous tests. The game was playable in every configuration with about 40 fps in medium details and our test devices resolution (1366×768). The Timeline X shows us what it’s all about and sets itself significantly apart from the average with 46 fps. A GT 330M is averagely 36% slower (medium).Acer TravelMate 4280 Battery

This makes hopes for more details. And indeed, the game runs smoothly in high details with 31 fps. In this case, a GT 330M is 32% slower. The processor is what matters, because high drops to 26 fps with an AMD Phenom II X3 P820 (1.8 GHz). Even an i5-430M (2.3 GHz) only has 28 fps.Acer TravelMate 4260 Battery

It is said that the real-time drama is very dependent on the CPU because the movements and the AI of many small units have to be calculated. The game is smoothly playable on all notebooks with a HD 5650 in medium settings (at 1366×768). A configuration with an AMD Phenom II X3 P820 (1.8 GHz) supplies 36 fps, whilst our test device achieves 44 fps. The sister model, 430M, is on par with 43 fps.Acer TravelMate 5510 Battery

Our test device can score 28 fps in high details, which however aren’t really smoothly playable on any notebook with a HD 5650. A 430M combination achieves the same rate (TravelMate 7740G-434G50Mnss). Now the strong 460M processor decides about the playability: The AMD Phenom II X3 P820 configuration only achieves 24 fps.Acer TravelMate 5210 Battery

The ATI HD 5650 proves to be powerful in the random test. The GPU can again add a few fps due to the i5-460M. But there is hardly any difference to the 430M. The CPU has an impact on the playability of games, especially when HD 5650 + AMD CPU are compared. The 460M should be preferred in games for top results.Acer TravelMate 3900 Battery

Slim case, strong hardware. This could make some potential buyers fear of a small heater. The ergonomics can be described in a few words this way: Quiet and cool office use, but extreme heat with constant volume during gaming.Acer TravelMate 2490 Battery

Surfing or typing in Word is possible in the lowest speed (30.9 to 31.8 dB(A)). The fan rotates very quietly in the minimum rate. However, it never stays longer than 10 seconds on this almost inaudible level. Because the fan changes very quietly and the difference is very low, the varying speed isn’t disturbing. The Intel HD was enabled for office and idle operating mode.Acer TravelMate 2450 Battery

The cooling can’t maintain its lowest speed with an enabled HD 5650 and increases up to 33.2 dB(A) in idle.Acer Aspire 9920G Battery In the meantime, the hard disk almost always stays below the fan noise level with 32.3 dB(A)The cooling system turns up a bit in the test games. We generally measured 35.3 dB(A), which is only slightly louder than in office use. The volume first increases to 43.4 dB(A) when CPU and GPU are both processing under full load in the stress test. Depending on the CPU load in games, this rate can also be reached in gaming. After the load comes to an end, the fan reduces itself to a considerably lower level within seconds.Overall, the fan management makes a successful impression. It stays discreetly in the background most of the time and gets audible under load, but not annoying.Acer Aspire 9810 Battery